‘So caring’: Community rallies to help Wheaton pantry that lost three tons of food after storm

At 11:55 a.m. Monday, as Jeni Fabian and her colleagues stocked shelves at the People's Resource Center food pantry in Wheaton, a massive storm approached.

The sky darkened, the power cut out and sirens sounded as Fabian and others headed to the basement and stairwells.

Thirty minutes later, Fabian and the others emerged to find the PRC building undamaged. But the power remained out for 14 hours. By the time it was restored, three tons of donated food were unusable.

“It was absolutely heartbreaking to throw away food when we know how much our members need it,” said Fabian, the CEO of the organization that serves 600 DuPage County families weekly.

Employees and volunteers called clients to tell them the center would remain closed Tuesday. Even so, 50 people came for food, Fabian said. They left with shelf staples and emergency supplies.

Meanwhile, community members sprang into action, donating food and cash, according to Fabian.

“The folks who live around PRC in Wheaton and Westmont are so caring and generous. As soon as we announced we had to discard food and asked for help, we immediately started hearing from people,” she said.

Closed Tuesday for cleanup, the PRC — which also operates a clothing closet and offers educational programs including computer training, literacy and job coaching — reopened Wednesday.

Fabian credits generous supporters, who she says understand how much their neighbors depend on the groceries and other services the center provides.

“When the storm hit it was a crisis for all of us,” said Fabian. Losses to residents “already stretched trying to make ends meet” are especially acute, Fabian said.

“The storm will continue to have ripple effects for folks who were hit the hardest,” she said. “That's why we stay open.”

She encourages potential donors to visit the organization's website, peoplesrc.org, and consider becoming volunteers.

“They're the reason we can reach 23,000 neighbors each year,” she said.

Elsewhere, the Wheaton Public Library closed Monday due to a power outage. When it reopened Tuesday, it welcomed residents whose homes were without power, said community engagement department head Courtney Tedrick.

“We've definitely had an increase in people charging their phones and getting work done,” she said.

The size of the library — with plenty of space to work and outlets to charge devices — allowed it to accommodate an influx of remote workers, Tedrick added.

Rachael Flewelling, marketing manager for the Glen Ellyn Public Library, said library visits increased by 45% Monday and Tuesday. The library's cafe saw a 20% increase in patrons Monday and 40% Tuesday.

In response, the library made available spaces that typically require reservations. Staffers also added tables and chairs to the adult department to accommodate additional users.

Carol Stream Public Library saw a surge in patrons from outside the community, Wheaton and Bloomingdale in particular, said Director Allyson Renell.

“People stopped at the desk to tell us they were from other towns and ask about Wi-Fi,” she said. “There was definitely an uptick of people coming in with laptops and electronic devices.”

The library happily hosted the out-of-towners, Renell said.

“We welcome anybody who wants to come into the library,” she said.

ComEd reported late Wednesday that power had been restored to more than 90% of the 530,000 customers affected by the storm, with restoration efforts ongoing.