Wake Up Tri-Counties Kewanee Food Pantry New Director Sarah Titlow Talks Food Pantry Demand as Assistance Grows

New leadership is in place at the Kewanee Food Pantry, where Sarah Titlow has been named director. Titlow, a retired Kewanee High School special education teacher, says the pantry now serves more than 400 families each month, with demand rising due to higher food costs and changes to SNAP benefits. She says shelves are especially low near month’s end, with needs including protein, fruits, vegetables, cereal, hygiene products, and easy-open foods for people without access to cooking. Donations can be made at kewaneefoodpantry.org, by mail to P.O. Box 492 in Kewanee, or during pantry hours. The Kewanee Food Pantry is located at 924 Rose Street and is open on Tuesdays from 10 AM to 2 PM and Thursdays from 3 to 6 PM. Kewanee Food Pantry continues to make a major impact for local families facing food insecurity. The nonprofit serves eligible Kewanee residents, assisting about 475 households each month and distributing roughly one million pounds of food every year. In 2025, the pantry handed out nearly 5,700 food boxes, helping approximately 19,500 people. Food and supplies come from wholesalers, distributors, area food banks, local stores, and commodity items from the State of Illinois. Public donations, along with support from area groups and businesses, also play a vital role. The pantry’s “Backpacks for Kids” program remains another key effort, providing 3,760 backpacks to local children during the 2025 school year.