Riedel Foundation awards $10,000 to Hannibal Salvation Army to provide Christmas food boxes

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Riedel Foundation is partnering with the Hannibal Salvation Army to provide holiday cheer to Hannibal residents. Riedel trustees awarded a $10,000 grant to help put food on the table this Christmas to Hannibal residents in need.

In a press release, Capt. Rich Forney with the Salvation Army Quincy Area Command said, “This grant is a lifeline for families who are struggling to put food on the table this Christmas season. No one should go hungry, but especially during such a joyous season.”

The Salvation Army anticipates handing out 800 to 900 Christmas food boxes this year. Inside each box will be enough food to feed a family of four to five. The boxes include a four-pound ham, canned fruits and vegetables, stuffing, dinner rolls, pie and more. The baskets have a box of cereal, milk and eggs so the family can have breakfast.

The Riedel Foundation has awarded more than $6 million in grants in the last two decades. The terms of the Riedel trust dictate that the money benefits the residents of Hannibal. Even though the food boxes go to residents in Lewis, Monroe, Shelby, Ralls, Pike and Marion counties, more than 90 percent will benefit Hannibal area residents. The Riedel grant comprises about a third of budget for the Salvation Army Christmas food boxes program.

“The Salvation Army helps people in so many ways, not just through their food distribution,” Riedel trustee Paul Richards said. “This is just one small way we can help them reach out to people in need.”

The Christmas boxes will be distributed on Dec. 13.