Canadian Pacific Holiday Train to stop in Pingree Grove on Dec. 4

Northern Illinois Food Bank and Canadian Pacific are proud to announce the 2014 Holiday Train will be riding the rails to raise money and awareness about hunger issues in Pingree Grove.

This year, the ‘train of lights’ will be in Pingree Grove at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4 to raise money, food and awareness for the Food Bank. The Pingree Grove stop is one of about 150 communities that are part of this year’s journey by the two Holiday Trains making their way across Canada and the United States. The stop is taking place at Village Hall, located at 14N042 Reinking Rd., Pingree Grove.

Food and fund donations will benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank, which provides food to more than 71,000 people each week through a network of 800 community food pantries and feeding programs in 13 Illinois counties. Northern Illinois Food Bank leads the northern Illinois community in solving hunger by providing nutritious meals to those in need through innovative programs and partnerships.

With families continuing to turn to food pantries, the need is always present. Items such as infant formula, canned meats, and spaghetti sauce are in popular demand. The request is for people to bring a non-perishable food item or a cash donation to their local event to support Northern Illinois Food Bank.

This is the 16th year for this annual rolling fundraiser. Since 1999, the Holiday Train program has raised about $9.5 million and about 3.3 million pounds of food for North American food banks.

Each Holiday Train has 14 brightly decorated rail cars with hundreds of thousands of technology-leading LED holiday lights and designs. As well, the two trains feature a modified boxcar that has been turned into a traveling stage for performers who entertain supporters with a live festive show for the entire family.

Supporters can also join the Holiday Train on Facebook and follow the two trains on Twitter, and Instagram @CPHolidaytrain #CPHolidayTrain. For additional information, photos, a route map, and downloadable pictures of the two trains, visit: www.cpr.ca.

The 2014 Holiday Train schedule is available on cpr.ca and Facebook. Find out more about how you can Volunteer, Donate, and Get Involved with Northern Illinois Food Bank at www.SolveHungerToday.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.