United Relief offering free pickup of donated goods

Mount Prospect-based United Relief Foundation's Hope and Help Express provides a way for residents to get food and goods donations to the local food pantry or shelter.

Until Dec. 22, United Relief Foundation's Hope and Help Express will be offering free pickup of food and goods donations from residents and businesses in the towns of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Palatine, Prospect Heights and Wheeling. United Relief Foundation will then deliver the donations in the contributor's name to their choice of a designated food pantry or shelter identified by the United Relief Foundation serving those towns mentioned.

"During the Foundation's Stock the Shelves pilot program in Mount Prospect we discovered that even with several drop-locations a frequent remark from donors was finding the time to bring in their donation. Considering the Foundation was already planning to expand our Stock the Shelves Lifeline Initiative into other communities in 2008, it was decided to start now with our Hope and Help Express," said United Relief Foundation co-founder Frank Slove. "With the Foundation's transport and storage capabilities, our volunteers are able to pick-up any donation from a frozen turkey to a truck load of canned food."

Stock the Shelves is a United Relief Foundation initiative to provide food pantries and emergency shelters assistance in offering individuals and families hope and help during their time of need.

Details about the Hope and Help Express and a list of acceptable food and goods items can be found on www.stocktheshelves.org, or by calling (847) 345-2413 for information or to schedule a pickup.