Linda Moore Announces How Misdirected Food Pantry Donations May Be Retrieved

A press release from Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore:

Grafton Township Food Pantry Donations

Grafton Twp. Supervisor Linda Moore today announced the procedure which the Grafton Township General Assistance office will use for a refund of funds donated in error to the food pantry run from Grafton Township.

Potential claims arose as a result of public comments made by Gerald LaBonte, a self-appointed spokesman on the issue.

At the January 10th meeting of the Grafton Township Board Mr. LaBonte claimed donations from an October 22nd fund drive at Sun City were mistakenly given to the township.

Linda Moore

Linda Moore

“No one told us that at the time,” said Supervisor Moore.

“Due to the timing of Mr. LaBonte’s comments it is hoped this is not a political move what with the Republican Primary election coming up February 26, 2013.”

Regardless, Supervisor Moore said that anyone who contributed monies by mistake to the Grafton Township Food Pantry will receive a refund as long as a minimum proof of claim is provided.

Individuals from Sun City Neighborhood 12 need to submit a written request by mail with a proof of donation to obtain a refund. The claims will be checked and refunds will be issued accordingly.

“I might suggest that next year Mr. LaBonte make sure donations are delivered to the right food pantry.”

In our efforts to serve those in need we welcome and thank you for any donations made to the official Grafton Township Food Pantry office at 10109 Vine Street, Huntley.


Comments

Linda Moore Announces How Misdirected Food Pantry Donations May Be Retrieved — 18 Comments

  1. “At the January 10th meeting of the Grafton Township Board Mr. LaBonte claimed donations from an October 22nd fund drive at Sun City were mistakenly given to the township. “No one told us that at the time,” said Supervisor Moore.”

    Linda Moore, You received the mistaken donation on October 29, 2012. Mr. LaBonte says that you were contacted by his group one week later, on November 5, 2012 and that you were asked to return their donation. Why has it taken you several months to offer to return their money?

    I could almost see accepting their donation and cashing their checks. You were contacted a week after they made their donation, when they realized their mistake. Then YOU blocked their request for a refund, and then put off their refund request for several months. I am amazed that your are able to spin your own faulty moral compass into a “press release” that finds fault with others. Bravo to you for implementing a procedure that may (or may not) keep you from taking what is not intended for you. Kudos!

  2. Why is the food pantry on Vine Street not listed on the Illinois Attorney General’s charitable database?

    Taken from Illinois Attorney General’s web site:

    Under Illinois law, fundraisers and charitable organizations are required to register each year with the Attorney General’s office.

    Potential donors may then access important information such as income, expenditures, programs and administration before giving to the charity.

  3. Huh. If you look at GuideStar, it shows that the food pantry’s 990 is up to date, and if you do a search on irs.gov using their EIN, it shows that they are a public charity.

  4. Again just another deflect, deflect deflect when something is done wrong. The only reason anything is being done about this is because Mr Labonte had the courage to come to a meeting and speak the truth. I applaud him for that.

  5. BTW, when the food pantry was created on Vine Street by Moore she stated that it was a GA food pantry. That means that only GA recipients can benefit from it. It was in her press release.

  6. Moore Blames her Sun City $$ Hijack Act on Local Politics and
    Hires a High Price Attorney to Delay Payback and Make it Difficult for Sun City Residents to Get their $$ Returned!!!

    From FEN:
    Grafton’s Moore Sees “Politics” In Donation Refund Request

    The spokesman for a Sun City Neighborhood group said Monday it was “insulting” when Grafton Supervisor Linda Moore and her attorney suggested a request to give back misdirected food pantry check donations was politically motivated.

    “Due to the timing of Mr. LaBonte’s comments it is hoped this is not a political move what with the Republican Primary election coming up February 26, 2013,” said Moore who faces two Republican challengers in a news release Monday evening.

    “I’m apolitical,” said Jerry LaBonte, Elected Representative for the 181 homes in Neighborhood 12 Monday. “(Before this) I didn’t even know the names of the (Grafton) Board members.”

    At Thursday’s Township Board meeting LaBonte complained Moore refused to refund almost $1,000 in checks delivered to her by a Neighborhood volunteer in late October under the mistaken impression they’d go to the Grafton Food Pantry on Allison Court in Huntley. Moore calls a General Assistance food donation program that she runs at the Township office on Vine Street the Grafton Township Food Pantry.

    “It’s simple,” said LaBonte. “The money went to the wrong place. May we have it back?” Moore refused to answer that Thursday but in a comment Friday on FEN’s story about the conflict announced, “Good news, after checking, it is legal to refund. The details are to be worked out.”

    The details, according to a letter from Moore attorney John Nelson to LaBonte Monday, would involve each donor individually requesting his money back in writing accompanied by a copy of a canceled check “to make sure the claim is legitimate”

    “What’s Nelson doing writing a letter?” complained Trustee Barb Murphy Monday. “He’s not the Township Attorney. We don’t have a Township Attorney, thanks to Linda.” Trustees refused to confirm Moore’s appointing him to the post since he’s her attorney in the lawsuits between the Supervisor and the rest of the Grafton Board. “This has nothing to do with the original lawsuit,” Murphy fumed.

    Moore didn’t return FEN requests for comment Monday. However, later she appeared to blame Neighborhood 12 residents for the confusion. “I might suggest that next year Mr. LaBonte make sure donations are delivered to the right food pantry,” she said in her news release.

    In the pic: Sun City’s Neighborhood 12 is around McHenry Park.
    POSTED BY FIRST ELECTRIC NEWSPAPER LLC AT 9:31 AM

    Hmm, Could the States Attorney Office be the next one to pull a political move and challenge Moore on her recent Refusal to Return Donation $$ Money to Sun City Residents When they Requested?

    Sun City Residents – do you want a person like this to get re-elected? And a reminder to attend the Supervisor Debate in Sun City on 2/6/13!

  7. I for one do not want someone like that re-elected! She deflects ,deflects and twists things! Not a good public servant! Grafton Township needs better than this!

  8. John Lovaas

    Yes you are correct, but all that information takes you back to the Grafton Food Pantry now located on Allison Court. This is where the money was intended to go.

    Linda took money from seniors and deposited into her food pantry that is not listed anywhere on the Attorney General’s Charity database, GuideStar, or irs.gov.

    Once again, under Illinois law, fundraisers and charitable organizations are required to register each year with the Attorney General’s office.

  9. The money was brought to the township.

    My advise in November was not to refund the donation.

  10. Linda, you were wrong to accept the funds, you were wrong to refuse to return it, and you are wrong to demand that each individual contributor provide proof of their donation before you refund it. Accept the documentation provided by Mr. LaBonte as the amount donated, and write a check for the REAL Grafton Township Food Pantry, and deliver it to Mr. LaBonte.

    This is the RIGHT thing to do, and might actually help you to save some face. Given that, I have no doubt that this is exactly what you WON’T do, because history shows you seem to have no desire to do the RIGHT thing

  11. So if your lawyer gave you advice to jump off a cliff, you would?
    If your lawyer gave you advice to keep someone in a basement, you would?

    Just because you are given “advice” does not mean it’s right.

  12. So Linda’s latest bungle is now being blamed on the Republican Party? Am I reading that correctly?? With all your reckless spending, Linda,, perhaps you are in the wrong primary race after all.

  13. Moore says: “The money was brought to the township. My advise in November was not to refund the donation.”

    Poor advice at a high cost.

    Moore’s process includes constantly going to her high priced Attorney Nelson vs. using no cost common sense, high ethics, and true care for the taxpayers.

    So Sun City and other Grafton Taxpayers, do you want such a person to be re-elected? One who demonstrates monthly poor decisions, accounting errors and attorney costs?

  14. I generally follow the advise of counsel, as would any of you.

  15. “I generally follow the advise of counsel, as would any of you.”

    Not when it’s the wrong thing to do. You are twisted beyond belief.

  16. You generally follow the advice of counsel, except for the fact that Grafton township has no appointed counsel, and the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that Nelson cannot represent the township in anything unrelated to your standing lawsuit.

  17. Jack@6:56pm: Bazinga! Sounds like the opposite happened here, not to mention the advice was poor. I sense another firing.

  18. There is often confusion over the words ‘advice’ and ‘advise’.

    (My advice…stop letting the lawyers advise you!)

    Advice: The word advice is a noun meaning a ‘suggestion for a beneficial course of action’. (It rhymes with mice.)

    Examples:

    Take my advice. I don’t use it anyway.
    He who can take advice is sometimes superior to him who can give it.
    Many receive advice, but only the wise profit from it.

    Advise: The word advise is a verb meaning ‘to give advice’. (It rhymes with prize.) To advise can also mean to notify (e.g., I advised him I was leaving.)

    Examples:

    I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.
    The rich are always advising the poor, but the poor seldom return the compliment.
    Attach yourself to those who advise you rather than praise you.

    Read more at http://www.grammar-monster.com/easily_confused/advice_advise.htm#sGA8igwX3pS14tXY.99

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