LOVES PARK, Ill. (WIFR) — “Be inspired, be inspiring.” That’s the motto of local healthy food and healthy lifestyle business Food 4 Fuel. The company has now teamed up with a former employee to help a family in need.
Bernal worked with Lilly and the two were friends. Hours after hearing about his friend’s death, Bernal stood near 15th and Main asking passersby for cash and visited local bars as well. From that alone, he made almost $500 to help with Lilly’s funeral and clothes for Lilly’s children. Bernal also asked McIlroy for his help. Food 4 Fuel CEO Jim McIlroy says Jesus Bernal came to him with the idea to help the children of Jordan Lilly. 21-year-old Lilly was killed leaving a party on Sablewood Drive, the morning of July 22.
“I came to Jim because I know Jim knows a lot of good people that are helping as you can see the donations that came by,” Bernal says. “I know that he would reach out to a lot of people. He’s been good. He’s a good guy.”
“I was just inspired by you know, his passion and enthusiasm during this grieving time because that was a friend of his that he had lost,” McIlroy says. “And he just wanted to step up and take action and try to do something to help and make good out of a bad situation.”
The community is encouraged to bring diapers, wipes, food, size three and four T clothing and baby shampoo or soap. The items can be dropped off until Friday at the Food 4 Fuel fridge inside the Carlson Ice Arena.
Food 4 Fuel will deliver the donations to the Lilly family on Friday.