McLean County Times

Several food pantries and community organizations in McLean County are providing assistance to residents in need. The list includes a range of locations throughout Bloomington, Normal, Gridley, LeRoy, and other areas.

Abundant Life operates at 108 E. Market St., Bloomington, offering services on a first-come, first-served basis Monday through Friday and on Sundays from 12 to 1 p.m. Bread for Life Co-op at 301 E. Oakland Ave., Bloomington serves families with specific membership requirements and set hours throughout the week.

Center for Hope - Temba Food Pantry requires visitors to present photo identification and proof of residence at 12920 Old Colonial Rd., Bloomington on Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Eastview Christian Church provides pantry services at its lower level at 1500 N. Airport Rd., Normal during multiple time slots each week; they also require photo ID and proof of residency.

Gridley Food Pantry is open Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at 406 West 7th St., Gridley. LeRoy Christian Church serves only LeRoy residents every second and fourth Monday from 5 to 6 p.m.

Ministry and More in Bloomington requires appointments made by phone for drive-through service at 1107 W. Empire St. Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church offers drive-through pickup on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; visitors should bring photo ID and specify the number of people they are collecting for.

Oasis Food Pantry is located at 1308 E. Empire St., Bloomington with both regular hours on Tuesdays and additional Saturday appointments for members only.

The Salvation Army runs its pantry Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 611 W. Washington St., requiring ID and proof of residency with eligibility limited to once per month.

St. Vincent DePaul provides food pantry services as well as financial aid options; it operates out of 705 Roosevelt Ave., Bloomington with set hours including some Saturdays, requiring proof of residency and ID.

Union Missionary Baptist Church accepts appointments every day except Sunday at its location on Jackson Street in Bloomington; photo ID is required.

Western Avenue Community Center distributes food boxes Monday through Friday from its site in Bloomington.

Little Free Pantries (LFPs) are available across several sites including Atwood Wayside LFP, the curbside book pickup area at the Bloomington Public Library, Jersey Hill LFP near Ewing Park III, Morris Avenue LFP, Second Presbyterian LFP, Sunnyside Park LFP by the baseball diamond, Unity Community Center LFP in Normal, as well as West Bloomington Revitalization Project’s site on Washington Street.

These resources aim to address local needs among families facing food insecurity across McLean County communities.

In related information about McLean County schools:

- The average student-to-teacher ratio was reported as fourteen students per teacher during the most recent school year according to data provided by state education officials (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx).

- Teacher absenteeism rates were lower than the state average during that same period (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx).

- Enrollment figures show diversity among area high schools; Normal Community High School had the highest number of white students enrolled while Bloomington High School had the largest numbers among multiracial, Hispanic, and Black students respectively (https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Home.aspx).