Ameren Illinois employees deliver 20,000 pounds of food to local pantries ahead of Thanksgiving
Members of Ameren Illinois’ Maryville Operating Center pose with some of the foodstuffs they collected for the company’s annual food drive. (submitted photo)
Employee-driven effort helps fight hunger across Central, Southern Illinois
COLLINSVILLE — Ameren Illinois employees turned generosity into action this Thanksgiving season, collecting and delivering over 20,000 pounds of food to local pantries across the state. This marks the fourth consecutive year of the company’s employee-led food drive and participation continues to grow with 4,000 more pounds raised than last year. Through friendly competition, 42 Ameren Illinois operating locations worked together to stock shelves for families in need.
“Helping the food pantries that serve individuals and families in the communities where we live and work means a lot to our co-workers,” said Luke Wollin, Vice President of Electric Operations. “What makes this effort special is that it’s 100% employee driven.”
Top contributors included:
- Robinson Operating Center – 2,872 pounds
- Fleet Services – 2,776 pounds
- Pittsfield Operating Center – 760 pounds
- Pioneer Park Operating Center – 614 pounds
- Belleville Operating Center – 611 pounds
Food insecurity remains a critical issue. Fourteen percent of U.S. households reported experiencing food insecurity in 2025, and in Illinois, 1.65 million residents—about one in eight—struggle to access enough food. Children and seniors are among the most impacted.
