Loaves & Fishes buys site for new building

Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry has found a new home on 2.6 acres in northwest Naperville.

The pantry, which provides food for families in need from a rented warehouse at 556 W. Fifth Ave., finalized the purchase Friday, Executive Director Charles McLimans said Tuesday.

He said the group used a $240,000 federal grant it received through the city to cover about half the cost of acquiring the vacant land.

Officials said they hope to build and open the new facility at 1835 High Grove Lane within 12 to 18 months.

Leaders decided to pursue their own structure after finding most available buildings in Naperville were either too large, too small or not zoned properly, McLimans said.

The agency's board of directors has begun talks about what it hopes to accomplish with the new site as part of a three-year strategic plan focusing on the pantry's mission, vision and values.

McLimans said officials plan to meet with community members, clients and city leaders to solicit input about ways to maintain their level of service while possibly expanding to meet other social service needs.

"We want to have larger conversations on what is demanded of Loaves & Fishes in the community and what the need is in the community," he said.

He said the agency also will continue to pursue measurable data to ensure it's a "good steward of the public trust and funds."

The pantry receives the bulk of its money from donations, grants and the city.

It's still too early to determine how large a building the group will pursue, how much it will cost and how it will be funded, he said. Sierra Realty Services Inc. of Naperville is providing free consultation work for the project.

Loaves & Fishes has a one-year rental agreement for its current site and a flexible contract that's renewable in three-month increments until the pantry is ready to move into its new space.

McLimans said the existing facility is no longer large enough for the agency, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2009. The pantry distributed more than 1 million pounds of food last year to 5,765 people from 1,675 different families in need.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for Loaves & Fishes to prepare for the future," board President Tom Kallay said in a written statement.

The land purchase is the latest in a series of major events at Loaves & Fishes.

Longtime Executive Director Joanne Mitrenga stepped down in early January after seven years at the helm to join the DuPage Community Foundation in Wheaton.

In her absence, McLimans, who began work at the pantry two years ago as a volunteer, shared the interim executive director post with board member Sandy Forty until he was named permanent director two weeks ago.

Now he'll be at the forefront as the pantry prepares for one of the biggest steps in its history.

"It's a very exciting time with a lot of changes," he said. "But we feel we have great support throughout the city."