Peter Rubi Gives Free Grocery Boxes To Help People After Storms

PLAINFIELD, IL — Driven by an intense love for the community, a family-owned market is giving away free boxes of groceries Wednesday as people across the village grapple with power outage caused by the severe storm that ripped through the area Monday afternoon.

Peter Rubi, located at 15412 Route 59 in Plainfield, will be distributing pre-packed boxes filled with fresh produce and wholesome, "from the earth food," said Marketing Manager Katherine Witcpalek.

"We wanted to make light of the recent storm, and not let our produce go to waste," she said. "We wanted to make sure those who have had a tough time lately were reassured that there is both hope and people to rely on for assistance when they need it."

With team members from the surrounding areas, the plant-based store has been around in the village for 8 years, with a bevy of dedicated customers who travel long distances to visit it.

"The community is a driving force for us here at Peter Rubi," Witcpalek said. "We cannot express the gratitude we feel for everyone who has supported us. Our customers mean the world to us; and they truly are the best part of our day. We wanted to let our community know that we are there for them. Always."

The store started giving away boxes at 9 a.m. and will continue till supplies last. To ensure safety, everyone is required to remain in the cars and the boxes will be hand delivered to their trunks.

Along with thousands of houses in Plainfield, Peter Rubi also lost its power and has been closed since. It will reopen Friday morning. For those who need pantry staples can order online.

"We feel blessed that we have received the opportunity to turn the tragedy of the storm and our power going out into triumph for our customers," Witcpalek said. "It is not always about 'what we want' but rather 'what can we do to turn this into a positive situation.'"

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