Illinois e-News Release

Dec. 18, 2025

Eric Krol (312) 814-1252

Adriana Colindres (217) 558-1920

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs is returning $100,000 in missing money to food pantries throughout the state.

Each December, Frerichs’ office focuses on returning money through the ICash program to nonprofit groups that help people in need. This year, Frerichs decided to help food pantries that saw resources stretched and demand spike when the federal government shutdown stopped food assistance to many Illinois families in November.

“Food pantries always step up to feed people in need,” Frerichs said. “It’s been a challenging year with federal cutbacks to food banks earlier in the year. The Trump administration opting to cut off food assistance to our state’s neediest folks last month was a double whammy. We wanted to see if we could help, when our local food pantries put meals on the table for millions of Illinoisans.” 

On Thursday, Frerichs visited the food pantry at 4 K.I.D.S. Sake in the southwest suburbs to return $5,500 to the nonprofit. Twice this year, thieves stole the catalytic converters from their donation trucks to sell for scrap metal. The latest theft happened in November.

The Bolingbrook nonprofit was founded in 2012 by Theresa Watson when she was 17 and saw that needs of so many children in difficult situations were not being met. Since then, the charity has helped more than 10,000 children. 4 K.I.D.S. Sake has a food pantry and resale shop.

“This money will help as we try to meet the needs of families during the holiday season,” Watson said. “We pick up six days a week. Our trucks are critical to serving families. These thefts have been devastating, but we’re strong and resilient.”

The money for 4 K.I.D.S Sake came to the Illinois Treasurer’s Office from a health insurance company last year.

“What those thieves did to 4 K.I.D.S Sake’s trucks is unconscionable. This group does so much to help people, and we are happy to be able to do something to help them, especially at such an important time of year,” said Frerichs, who returned the money along with Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta, State Sen. Meg Loughran-Cappel of Shorewood, and State Reps. Natalie Manley of Joliet and Dagmara Avelar of Romeoville.

Illinois’ unclaimed property program, also known as ICash, is one of the state’s oldest consumer protection initiatives. In Illinois, the state treasurer is tasked with safeguarding unclaimed property, such as the contents of overlooked safe deposit boxes, unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards. 

Illinois holds more than $5 billion in unclaimed property. More than $2.4 billion has been returned since Frerichs took office, the most in state history. To see if you have unclaimed property, check the online database at icash.illinoistreasurer.gov. The state treasurer is legally required to return unclaimed property to its owners or heirs, no matter how long it takes.

Grace Family Church - $541.60

Empower Boone - $15,125.16

Bureau County Food Pantry - $1,500

 

Urbana

Eastern Illinois Foodbank - $148.21

 

Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church - $1,925.65

The Mosque Foundation - $200

A Little Bit of Heaven - $44.25

A Safe Haven Foundation - $504

ABJ Civic Arts Center - $409.16

Allen Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church - $317.90

American Indian Center - $16,075.09

Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park - $124.47

Faith Tabernacle Baptist Church - $516.20

Firman Community Services - $1,552.05

Greater Chicago Food Depository - $69.21

Henry Booth House - $418

Iglesia Amor de Dios United Methodist Church - $47.70

Lincoln Park Community Services - $139.41 

Northwestern Settlement - $100

Open Arms Ministry - $110.28

Perfected Way Ministries - $300.77

Pilsen Wellness Center Inc. - $223.19

Polish American Association - $686.40

Saint Vincent dePaul Center - $140.04

Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church - $100

St Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church - $1,000

Chicago Miracle Temple Church - $293.14

Northfield Township Food Pantry - $501

The Second Baptist Church - $272.64

Northwest Compass, Inc. - $84

Beyond Hunger - $30.15

Palatine Township - $205.35

Abounding Life Church of God in Christ - $754.02

Harvest Bible Chapel - Rolling Meadows - $245.61

Willow Creek Care Center - $1,241.77

Together We Cope - $91.50

 

Hope Haven of DeKalb County, Inc. - $120 

 

Interfaith Food Pantry - $22.58

Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry - $602

Lisle Township Food Pantry - $150

Reach Community Services - $35

Lombard Villa Park Food Pantry - $100

Loaves & Fishes Community Services - $61.18

St. Irene Catholic Church - $75

Hancock County Health Department - $350

 

GROW Ministries Inc. - $90

Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry - $75

Orion Area Food Pantry - $250

 

Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry - $5,006.40

Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry - $47.51

Two Rivers Head Start Agency - $2,965.36

FISH Food Pantry - $8,991.42

First United Methodist Church - $254.66

Northern Illinois Food Bank - $218.23

Kankakee County Community Services, Inc. - $611.16

 

Kendall County Community Food Pantry - $69.87

 

Avon Township Center Food Pantry - $328.43

COOL Food Pantry - $1,145

Club Apaseo El Alto - $999.45

Community Action Partnership of Lake County - $12,192.81

Christian Faith Fellowship Church - $103.92

 

Lincoln Logan Food Pantry - $278

Glen-Ed Pantry - $100

Midwest Food Bank - $746.76

 

Bartonville Christian Church - $103.98

Neighborhood House - $1,319.27

Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church - $60.48

The Salvation Army - $1,676.38

Zion Baptist Church - $113.24

Bread of Life West Peoria - $180.05

 

River Bend Food Bank - $244.47

Project Now - $764.18

 

Call For Help - $500

East St. Louis Township - $1,072.60

Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House - $123.67

Food and Clothing Bank - $212.88

 

German Valley Food Pantry - $150

 

Danville Rescue - $2,070.20

 

Jamieson Community Center - $97.33

 

Sauk Valley Foodbank - $1,177.64

Whiteside County Senior Center - $873.73

4 K.I.D.S. Sake - $5,499.45

Frankfort Township Food Pantry - $997.37

Warren-Sharpe Community Center - $108.02

 

Marion Ministerial Alliance - $72.52

 

Remedies Renewing Lives - $97.13

The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is a powerful economic engine that invests in people to drive prosperity, development and growth throughout the state. As State Treasurer, Michael Frerichs (FRAIR’iks) is the state’s Chief Investment and Banking Officer and actively manages approximately $60 billion. The investments help families pay for college and trade school; workers save for a dignified retirement; and local governments process bill payments more efficiently so they can pass along the savings to taxpayers. The office provides financial institutions with money to loan to farmers, small business owners, and qualified individuals at below-market rates because better jobs create stronger communities. The office operates the state’s largest consumer-protection initiative, the missing money ICash program, which has returned a record-breaking $2.4 billion since Frerichs was elected.

For more news about the State Treasurer’s Office, please sign up for our newsletter and follow Treasurer Frerichs on Instagram at IL Treasurer, Threads @iltreasurer, LinkedIn and on Facebook at Invested in You – Treasurer Michael Frerichs.