Cary-Grove chamber helps food pantry stock its shelves

The Cary-Grove Chamber of Commerce recently made a $1,000 cash contribution to the Cary-Grove Food Pantry. That donation will stock the shelves to help feed the 120 needy families who depend on the pantry each month to support their families.

The proceeds came from the chamber's annual golf outing, which over the years has supported numerous community causes.

"Right now, 80 to 90 percent of what we have on the shelves we have bought," said Cherri Gereau of the Cary-Grove Food Pantry.

During slow times, according to Gereau, the pantry stocks its shelves by buying food at incredible discounts from the Northern Illinois Food Bank," Gereau said.

"We could spend about $800 a month to feed the families in our area. We have many large families we are serving right now."

The Northern Illinois Food bank is one source the pantry uses to keep their shelves full.

During the school year, Gereau said the pantry keeps operating with the help of multiple food drives hosted by many school and community organizations.

However, they must rely on cash donations and individual contributions during slower months.

"We used to panic when our shelves were getting low," Gereau added. "Now, we know that something always comes up. This community is very generous."

"The chamber has always been dedicated to helping important causes in the community," said Bob Swanson of Swanson Painting Inc., who headed the golf outing committee.

"Our commitment is not only to serving our business member, but to making a difference in our communities."

Through the years the chamber has donated to the senior centers in both communities, the firefighters associations, high schools, Operation Click, Community Christmas, Operation Bunk(er) Bed, YMCA Camp Algonquin, the Hurricane Katrina Victims Fund and others.

Donations are collected through various chamber events such as the golf outing, Garden Walk, Cruisin' Cary Nights and Merry Cary.