News

Rock Against Hunger helps feed those in need DuPage County

Posted November 24, 2009 10:00 pm

Daily Herald Staff Report

On Thursday many of us will sit down to a Thanksgiving feast, thinking nothing of helping ourselves to seconds (or thirds) as we count our blessings with family and friends.

A growing number of DuPage County families, though, are struggling to put meals on the table, not only on special days, but every day.

On Friday, the music lovers among us can do something to help. Rock Against Hunger brings to the stage a Beatles tribute band and a cover band with an acclaimed guitar player in the name of supporting Feeding Northwest DuPage.

The agency, formerly known as Northwest DuPage Walk-in Ministry, operates three walk-in food pantries and a monthly pantry to serve those in need in 11 communities in Bloomingdale, Wayne and Winfield townships. Supported by 18 churches, Feeding Northwest DuPage also offers emergency financial assistance.

Executive Director Tom Norton of St. Isidore Catholic Church in Bloomingdale discusses how Feeding Northwest DuPage is working to help families in the community.

Q. What is your mission?

A. To provide compassionate, effective assistance to families in need who live in the 11 communities we serve in Bloomingdale, Wayne and Winfield townships.

How do you work toward accomplishing that goal?

A. We operate three food pantries: St. Mary Church in West Chicago, Lutheran Church of the Master in Carol Stream and Resurrection Catholic Church in Wayne. We run a mobile pantry once a month at Family in Faith Church in Glendale Heights.

We also provide emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, prescriptions and transportation. Referrals are made, when needed, to agencies and organizations that can help families with counseling and other long-term needs.

Whom do you serve?

A. Families living within the boundaries of Bloomingdale, Wayne and Winfield townships (parts of 11 different communities) and those who belong to our partner churches.

When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?

A. We were incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1999 when 12 area churches came together to support our three pantries. Our partners have grown to 18 churches and our goal is to have 30 by 2012.

Visits to our sites by families in need were recorded in our first year at around 7,500. At the end of this last fiscal year on June 30, we had more than 21,000 visits by families in need. We have 5 part-time employees, 13 board members and more than 200 volunteers.

What kind of successes have you had?

A. Countless families have been saved from eviction, foreclosure, utility shut-off and hunger. In our partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, local grocers and foundations, we have been able to distribute more than 1.3 million pounds of food annually in the past couple of years.

What challenges does Feeding Northwest DuPage face?

A. Increased demand for our services. Each year for the past three years, families have had to come to a food pantry for the first time in their lives. Many have lost jobs. Some are underemployed. Others do not qualify for government assistance.

Another challenge is our need for larger spaces and equipment to do our work more efficiently.

What would surprise most people if they spent a week with the organization?

A. The thing that surprises most people when they visit our sites is the volume of goods and the amount of good that comes out of such small spaces. One of our sites is actually a two-car garage with a room attached, another is no bigger than many homes' walk-in closets, and our mobile pantry serves more than 200 families in just two hours on the second Saturday of each month.

The other thing that would get your attention is the great dignity that our more than 200 volunteers give to our guests (we don't call them "clients").

People also would be surprised that our average cost per pound of food is only 12 cents. That's a shopping cart full of food for about $5. We love it when people and organizations have food drives for us, but monetary donations buy much more food than any food drive we could ever hold.

How can readers get involved?

A. One of our sites still could use volunteers to stock shelves, greet guests and distribute food. Our dream list for expert help includes graphic designers, Web site maintenance, newsletter publication, pro-bono legal and accounting help when needed, and fundraising event coordinators.

Readers also could host food drives and fundraisers for our organization, and they could encourage their own places of worship to become involved with us as partners so we can reach our goal of 30.

- Christie Willhite

Supernaut, featuring guitarist Dave Uhrich, front left, performs Friday, Nov. 27, at Rock Against Hunger to benefit Feeding Northwest DuPage. Courtesy of Feeding Northwest Dupage

If you go What: Rock Against Hunger Why: Proceeds support Feeding Northwest DuPage food pantries and financial assistance programs When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27 Where: Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles Details: Concert features performances by Beatles tribute band The Cavern Beat and cover band Supernaut, featuring Dave Uhrich Tickets: $20-$40 for the main floor, $15-$20 for the balcony Info: <a href="http://rockagainsthunger.com" target="new">rockagainsthunger.com</a> Statistics Requests for help annually: More than 21,000 visits to the pantries last year Budget: $240,000 Funding: Partner churches, foundation grants, fundraisers, donations Employees: 5 part-time employees Volunteers: More than 200 Wish list: Monetary donations allow pantries to purchase food from the regional food bank for an average of 12 cents per pound. Otherwise, diapers, bathroom tissue, paper towels, cases of canned goods; donations of specialized talents such as newsletter publishers, graphic artists, handymen for site repairs and upgrades To donate Drop-off: Resurrection Church, Army Trail Road west of Route 59 in Wayne; St. Mary Church, 163 Garden St., West Chicago; Lutheran Church of the Master, 580 Kuhn Road, Carol Stream Mail-in address: Feeding Northwest DuPage, c/o St. Isidore Church, 427 W. Army Trail Road, Bloomingdale, IL 60108, attn: Ann Hatt Online: Via PayPal at <a href="http://feedingnwdupage.com" target="new">feedingnwdupage.com</a> To volunteer Phone: (630) 295-8330 E-mail: <a href="mailto:tnorton@stisidoreparish.org">tnorton@stisidoreparish.org</a> Info Phone: (630) 295-8330 Web: <a href="http://feedingnwdupage.com" target="new">feedingnwdupage.com</a>