Episcopal Relief and Development is providing assistance to a food pantry and other community outreach capacities that were interrupted after a fire at St. John's Church in the Diocese of Quincy in Illinois. The five-alarm fire began at 5 am, after severe thunderstorms swept through the area.

"The parish operates many community programs as well as a parochial pre-school which serves the needs of many low-income and at-risk children," says the Rt. Rev. Keith L. Ackerman. The food pantry, which was destroyed, also serves low-income members of the community.

ERD has given the Diocese an emergency grant of $25,000 to help restore the food bank, provide emergency food to those in need, and continue the functioning of other outreach programs of the church.