Will County Gazette

With the state still in the midst of a coronavirus lockdown that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, Illinois state Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) has jump-started a mobile food pantry in his 97th District designed to help those most in need.

“We’re sponsoring a food truck that will travel to communities in the district and deliver nutritious food, including fresh produce and refrigerated items,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette, adding that he and his team of volunteers will also be assisting to make sure that all appropriate safety precautions are taken to keep both residents and volunteers healthy.

The veteran lawmaker worked with Catholic Charities and Northern Illinois Food Bank to man the food pantry on April 8 at the St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield.

The effort is just the latest coordinated by Batinick to help the people of his district get over the hump in the ongoing battle against the lingering pandemic. He also recently launched his Helping Hands Program, which delivers groceries and other essential items to seniors across the area in an effort to keep them inside and to limit the spread of the deadly virus.

“This public health crisis we are navigating is unlike anything we have experienced before and it’s affecting everyone,” Batinick said. “I know that there are many people in my district and throughout Illinois who cannot adequately provide food for their families right now. We are here to help alleviate that stress.”

Batinick added his worries don’t end there.

“Some of my biggest concerns are for people like bartenders and waitresses that work hard in the service industry everyday but probably don’t have a lot of savings,” he said. “We’ve got to do all we can to make sure the people impacted in that way by the pandemic are taken care of.”

In the end, Batinick conceded there’s no road map for making sure all the right things are done.

“You just don’t know how hard times are going to affect every person,” he said. “My hope is that the Helping Hands Program and all the other things we’re involved in will make things easier for people in some way. Someone has to take the first step in trying to lead us back from this ... and hopefully this will just be an example of doing whatever little you can to help.”