Make no mistake – the closure of the Taylorville Kroger is impacting the community. 

That’s co-director of the Taylorville Food Pantry, Amy Hagen. She says that Kroger’s disappearance from the Taylorville grocery scene is significantly hindering the food pantry’s ability to meet the community’s hunger needs. 

Hagen says that the food pantry has received goods from the Kroger in Decatur, but it is much less frequent than if the Taylorville Kroger stayed open. 

The good news is that the food pantry, despite Kroger’s absence, is not alone. Both Aldi and Walmart in Taylorville provide assistance to the pantry. 

On top of the support from local grocers, the Central Illinois Food Bank is always working with their partner agencies like the Taylorville Food Pantry. 

Public Information Officer Tim Kirsinikas says that the food bank is keeping a close eye on the situation in Taylorville, and that they are prepared to address the need as it continues. The Food Bank recently assisted another town in Central Illinois that lost their Kroger. 

Learn more at taylorvillefoodpantry.com or at centralilfoodbank.org. 

Kirsinikas and Hagen appeared as guests on the WTIM Morning Show.