Manhattan Insurance Agent Makes $10K Donation To New Lenox Food Pantry

MANHATTAN, IL — Inflation is at a 40-year high, and that is affecting everything from mortgages and rent to a gallon of gas to workers' wages and everything in between, including the cost of groceries.

As prices continue to spiral out of control and uncertainty looms about the direction in which the economy is headed, many people and families are faced with a harsh and difficult decision: Spend money on bills, or spend it on food?

The New Lenox food pantry, which is run through New Lenox Township, is now using its resources to help feed around 300 people per week, according to Township officials. And those numbers continue to increase with each passing week.

But the news is not all gloom and doom, thanks to a generous $10,000 donation to the New Lenox food pantry from Manhattan-based State Farm Agent Kevin Molloy and his team.

When Molloy got word that he and his team were nominated for one of two Illinois' State Farm offices' Outstanding Community Awards, he admitted that although it was nice to be recognized, he knew there were much bigger offices in the state that probably had a better chance of winning.

"It was great to read when you open up your email, but something that you never think will be a possibility," Molloy said.

There were 500 such nominations in Illinois, Molloy said. Then it got whittled down to 100, then 25, then 1o, and Molloy was still on the list.

Finally, in May, Molloy and his team got word that they were chosen to give the $10,000 to a non-profit organization of their choice.

Knowing that there was no shortage of worthy nonprofits in the area, and because he and his team work together in making decisions for the office, Molloy said that he turned the "heavy lifting, the most important part" of deciding on a nonprofit over to his team, which consists of Tracy Kestel, Kim O’Neill, Irene Wilson and Kristin Forgac.

"They took about two days [to choose a nonprofit]. And because of our relationship that we have already with the food pantry, and what we do with our own micro-pantry [at the Manhattan State Farm office], they felt this was the right direction," Molloy said during a presentation Thursday for the oversized check during the New Lenox Township board meeting.

Now that the check has been deposited, the New Lenox food pantry is wasting no time putting that money to use.

First up on its list of needed items is milk, which the food pantry participates with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and Prairie Farms in a milk program, explained Jim Pitcairn, who is the soon-to-be head of the food pantry.

"This type of donation allows me for every patron who comes into us will get a gallon of milk for the next two years every week," Pitcairn said. "... It's money likes this that allows us to do these nice things for our people."

But milk is just the first drop in a much larger bucket, Pitcairn said. The food pantry will also be keeping a running list of the most requested items to make sure those are well-stocked at the food pantry.

Through the food pantry's partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the food pantry is able to purchase items at a substantially discounted rate, Pitcairn said.

Molloy and his team have had a long relationship with the food pantry, Pitcairn said. For example, every Thanksgiving Molloy and his team donate 50 Thanksgiving meals with all the trimmings to the food pantry, Pitcairn said.

"That's just the type of person Kevin is," Pitcairn said.

The soft-spoken Molloy was a bit more humble when talking about the work he and his team do for the community.

Molloy said he tries to live his life by a particular passage from the Bible: "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."

"I feel kind of blessed to have this opportunity to do this," Molloy said.

Those who find themselves in need of the food pantry's services can make an appointment with New Lenox Township by calling (815) 485-6431. New Lenox Township is located at 1100 S. Cedar Road in New Lenox.

Related: Inflation At 40-Year-High Nationally: How Illinois Compares