'Christmas miracle' gives food pantry permanent home and big wish list
An outpouring of donations has kept afloat the Luke 3:11 food pantry serving the Lake Villa, Lindenhurst and Round Lake area, and the charitable organization now looks to rebrand and expand.
The "Christmas miracle" that allowed the 5-year-old group to acquire the church it called home and 7 acres on Fairfield Road between Monaville Road and Grand Avenue has created new but welcome issues.
Besides distributing 35,000 pounds of food each month, Luke 3:11 Share Center will be responsible for the costs of needed repairs, utilities, upkeep and everything else that goes with a house and former parsonage on the expansive property.
"Now we're going to sustainability," co-founder Michele Holmes said Tuesday as she oversaw a bustling food distribution session for clients in its customized space in the basement of the former Renew Community Church.
The pantry was an offshoot of the church. But with dwindling participation, church elders ended services last fall and decided to gift the property to Luke 3:11, named after a Bible verse based on sharing.
Before that could happen, the $68,000 mortgage needed to be paid off and a balloon payment was coming due.
A GoFundMe page was created and the campaign generated enough interest for the lender to extend the original Christmas Day due-date 90 days. The GoFundMe page recorded 5,472 visits and 737 shares. Between that and other donations, enough was raised for the mortgage - with $3 to spare.
"It took everything just to pay off the mortgage," Holmes said.
The last donation was from a 10-year-old volunteer who brought $23 in dollar bills and coins he had collected door to door, she said.
On March 15, Luke 3:11 purchased the property and two buildings. A celebration and building dedication was held April 8.
"The community rallied around us," co-founder Rachel Fahrenbach said. "They really did become our Christmas heroes. Every gift made a difference."
While it has a permanent home and some breathing room, there are big plans and a thin margin.
"Now we're going to raise some more money for repairs," Fahrenbach said.
Topping that list is repair and expansion of the adjoining parking lot, which at times overflows with vehicles; creating a permanent "clothes closet" for patrons in the unfinished basement of the parsonage; converting the garage for food storage; and expanding the 30-plot community garden and creating a small working farm with pigs and chickens.
"Our plan is to use every space of that property," Holmes said. "... We have always had the vision of having different programs."
With the uncertainty last winter, planning "At the Table" events with local musicians and artists was put on hold but will resume, Holmes said.
The pantry is open six times a month for patrons. About 100 volunteers help unload and distribute food and other tasks. Holmes is limiting volunteer participation because of demand.
"The goal is not to wear people out," she said.