Goodwill helping keep food pantry stocked

As temperatures drop, goodwill generally rises.

By the time holiday season is upon us, charity is forefront on many people's minds.

And the Wauconda/Island Lake Food Pantry, which was staring into empty cupboards just a few weeks ago, is now looking at a $1,000 check courtesy of Jewel-Osco.

"The donations just weren't coming in, and I don't know what to attribute that to," said Yolanda Segovia, director of the food pantry.

Also, she added, at the same time, more families are coming to the food pantry asking for help. The pantry serves anywhere from 80 to more than 100 families a month.

"It just so happens that our numbers are climbing," said Segovia, who estimates about three to four new families a week come to the pantry. "The need is becoming greater than what our income allows us."

So when Jewel-Osco decided to donate to a local charity in honor of its store remodeling on Route 176, Wauconda Mayor Salvatore Saccomanno knew just what beneficiary he wanted.

"(Jewel) called me and asked me what charity (he wanted), and I told them the Wauconda/Island Lake food pantry would be the most appropriate," Saccomanno said. "This will be a very good help to them."

Segovia said she was shocked to learn Friday morning the check Jewel would be giving to the food pantry was so large.

"We knew there was going to be a donation, we just didn't know how much," she said. "Everybody's just really great about this."

Saccomanno said the village again will donate its annual $1,000 to the food pantry for the holiday season.

"We do that in lieu of the holiday party," he said. "We're also going to make a plea to the residents to help out as much as they can."

And though Segovia said the pantry appreciates the generosity during the holidays, she hopes the goodwill can begin to carry over to the rest of the year.

"This is when people think of giving," Segovia said. "But there is no such thing as a season for giving. People will be hungry all the time, no matter the season."

For more information, or to donate, call the Wauconda food pantry at (847) 526-8684. It is open from 10 a.m. to noon Monday to Saturday.