As Springfield’s Friend-in-Deed marks its 60^th year, the organization’s board was faced with the challenges of COVID-19. While many volunteers enjoy the comradery and festivity of distribution day, bringing hundreds of people together in 2020 is something the organization cannot do. Even bringing together smaller teams to review applications and plan distribution is impossible.

So how does Friend-In-Deed (FID) fulfill its mission to provide food to the needy over the holiday season?

By working with the Central Illinois Foodbank, FID chose to continue to provide essential services to the needy, but to do so in a different way. Here’s how donations are being used:

1. In November, the organization bought Thanksgiving meals for senior citizens who live in the apartment complexes typically served by FID.
2. In December, FID will provide a second holiday meal to our seniors.
3. In the early days of the pandemic, Friend-in-Deed made a $25,000 donation to the Community Foundation.

It Takes Your Generosity

In its 60 years, Friend-in-Deed has relied on community support. Thousands of individual donations have allowed FID to provide over 100,000 people with food. At a time when so many are struggling, the program is even more important.

INB is stepping up by serving as a drop-off point for monetary donations. To make a donation, simply bring your check, made out to Friend-In-Deed, to any of our drive-up locations. You can even use our night depositories if it’s easier for you to stop by after our regular business hours. You can also make a donation online on the Friend-in-Deed website.

As an added incentive to support a registered 501c3 organization in 2020, the CARES Act allows you to deduct up to a $300 in charitable contributions without itemizing your taxes. Friend-In-Deed is a 501c3 organization.

Thanks for your support.