Wheeling Township pantry growing to meet demand, inventory
Wheeling Township will more than double the size of its food pantry in the new year, and officials hope the larger space will prove more efficient for both clients and volunteers.
The new 2,000-square-foot pantry will allow people who need food to “shop” for items, rather than receive bags of food pre-packed by volunteers, said Jo Stellato, chief administrator for the township.
“We send them home with quite a bit of food, and sometimes there might be something that maybe that family won’t eat,” she said. “We are going to try the shopping model as a pilot program.”
Volunteers will check the clients out, so will get the same amount of food based according to the size of the family.
Officials say project will cost $50,000 to $60,000, and half of that will come from grants and donations. The remainder will come from the township’s general fund, said Stellato. The Chicago Food Depository will pitch in by supplying the pantry with freezers.
Construction bids for the pantry, which will be moved to different area of the township office basement, will be opened Friday. The township board could approve awarding the construction contract at its Dec. 13 meeting. Stellato expects construction to start in January and hopes it will be finished by March.
The expansion is needed to keep up with both growing demand and inventory. The number of people served has doubled in the last two years because of the economy, Stellato said.
About 200 families visit each month. The pantry gave out 260 Thanksgiving baskets and will distribute 400 for Christmas.
“Some people who don’t come regularly say ‘I can either buy my kids gifts for Christmas or buy food,’” Stellato said.
The pantry has 26 regular volunteers, and service organizations come in frequently, but more help needed to keep up with the flow of food, said Stellato.
“We are so lucky we have such a generous community,” she said. “Food is all over the basement. Our volunteers are on top of one another, and food is stacked everywhere. They are gracious enough to give of their energy and time. The least we can do is give them some elbow room.”
Recipients must be residents of Wheeling Township and meet income requirements. The township serves parts of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Prospect Heights, Wheeling, Rolling Meadows and Des Plaines.
While any resident who stops in can get food the first time, to be a regular monthly recipient he or she must register and be screened.
The pantry at is open 9 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1616 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Its phone is (847) 259-7730 and the website wheelingtownship.com.
“We have been looking forward to this expansion for a long time,” said Stellato. “All the people who are unemployed or underemployed ... it’s shocking.”