Rip's Tavern donation allows for mobile box food pantry in Spring Valley

LADD — Thanks to a generous donation from Rip’s Tavern in Ladd, the Hall Township Food Pantry will be able to fund a second mobile box food pantry event this fall.

The event will take place outside the food pantry, located at 500 N. Terry St., Spring Valley. Distribution will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 26. Food will be provided by River Bend Foodbank.

Last month, the food pantry held a mobile box food event in DePue and 205 families, about 900 people, were served.

“In these crazy times, it is good to stop and take a moment to applaud those who go above and beyond. I am blessed at our pantry to witness a lot of giving goodness,” Jan Martin, food pantry director, said. “Rip's Tavern in Ladd is well-known for its awesome chicken, but I am not sure people know of their generosity.”

When shelter-in-place began, restaurants and taverns began curbside distribution and Rip's was no exception. However, they added a twist — customers had the opportunity to purchase Rip's curbside t-shirts in addition to ordering chicken. The proceeds of the shirt sales were directed to the food pantry.

Last week, Angie Panizzi, one of the owners of Rips, dropped off a check for $1,350 as a result of the sales.

Rip's kindness didn’t stop there. Panizzi recently made a call to the food pantry asking how many clients it served in an evening. That evening, Gabe Leonard, owner of Rip’s, delivered pans of freshly fried chicken, which was bagged and added to clients' bags.

“It was a welcome morale booster — one our clients will long remember,” Martin said. “It is looting, hatred and protesting that makes the headlines today, but one doesn't have to look far to find giving goodness in our community. Rip's in Ladd is a great example.”