File photo
File photo
Rep. Mike Post (R-Illinois) has awarded the United Way of South Central Illinois with the Southern Illinois Hometown Hero award.
Since May 28, the nonprofit group has given away almost 684,000 pounds of produce and dairy through the Farmers to Family Program, WMIX-FM reported.
In addition, United Way is working with Cusumano & Sons Inc. to provide disinfectant wipes to schools. It will be distributing boxes of food at hospitals in Salem, Fairfield, McLeansboro, Mt. Carmel, Washington County and Franklin County.
The group is honored to be recognized along with other heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way Executive Director Nat Wellen said. The Farmers to Family program was launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide agricultural products to people in need during the COVID-10 pandemic, the agency said.
Distributors package the products including fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meat into boxes and take them to food banks and other locations.
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