Community Corner

Local Food Pantries: Remember Us This Holiday Season

Donations needed for the holiday season.

Two local food pantries have not been immune to the plight facing pantries all over the country — the need is up while donations are down.

People in the Fox Valley area are generously giving despite the economy’s downturn.

"The problem is that our need has increased so our donations have not been proportionate with the need,” Judy Pacheco, executive assistant for the Kendall County Food Pantry said.

“But we’ll do what we can with it,” she said. “We’re still providing.”

For those in the giving spirit this holiday season, needs for the food pantry include paper products, cleaning products and pet food.

“And of course monetary donations,” Pacheco said.

For every $1 in cash the pantry receives, Kendall County Food Pantry officials can procure $6 worth of food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

“But any (type of donation) is great,” Pacheco said. “We don’t like to limit. If somebody wants to give us a can of corn, we’re certainly going to take it.”

Items needed at the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, next to Hesed House on River Street, include hot and cold breakfast cereal, baby formula, diapers, and non-perishable food such as canned fruits and vegetables, spaghetti sauce and pasta, soup, baking mixes, peanut butter and jelly, beans, and rice.

Requests for assistance have increased 165 percent in the past three years, and 50 percent in this past year alone, said Marilyn Weisner, executive director of the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry.

Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"At the same time, we've seen decreases in donations and grant funding," she said. "People are still generous and donate what they can, but the problems in the economy have made it harder for everyone."

The food distributed by the pantry is obtained through community food drives and donations from individuals, businesses and organizations, and purchased with monetary donations and grants that the pantry receive, according to the organization's website.

Find out what's happening in Montgomerywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Donations to the pantry can be made online by clicking here.

Food donations are accepted from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pantry office at 659 S. River St., or by appointment by calling (630) 897-2127, according to the pantry’s website.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here