Longtime volunteers are backbone of local food pantry’s operations and growth

When Fran Strohm joined the board of West Suburban Community Pantry at the urging of her friend Barbara Schmith in 2000, she never dreamed that 25 years later she and her husband would still be serving in pivotal roles as volunteers at the Woodridge nonprofit.

Her invitation from Schmith, one of the organization’s founder, came when Strohm was president of the Woodridge Chamber of Commerce. Over the years, she says she and her husband have worked just about every job there is at the Pantry, from greeting customers and gathering information to packing orders.

When he retired as a software engineer in 2007, Fran’s husband, Chuck, joined Roger Schmith on a skeleton crew working on the new Saturday distribution. It wasn’t long before he was asked to help move the organization from paper records to computerized data collection. “I basically was the IT department for the next 10 years,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fran got involved with monitoring inventory and helping track what foods were needed on a weekly basis.

“I have a good feel for how much food is still donated by partners and food rescue, versus that which is purchased,” she said. “And being able to use cash donations to purchase food from Northern Illinois Food Bank means the money goes twice as far.”

Between the two of them, over the years the Strohms have supported a growing staff, helping to keep good data critical for operations and grant applications.

“Recording our inventory movements is only a small part of the value Fran brings to WSCP,” said Paul Matsushima, director of pantry operations. “She is a trusted partner who advocates for improvements to our processes, adapts her work to our changing reporting needs, and demonstrates her care for our staff, volunteers and donors through the expertise and collaboration she brings to her work.”

Chuck says his volunteer time has provided an anchor for him since he retired. “I can make a difference. I’m participating in something important,” he said. “Helping to train volunteers to collect intake data, seeing how clients can now register themselves in their native language, making it through COVID and renovations that make the shopping experience so much better, it’s been very rewarding.”

Fran gives credit to visionary leaders who worked to overcome boundaries to food access. “Now our neighbors in need have choice. Between the Woodridge Pantry, the Online Pantry and Senior delivery, they can get the foods they want six days a week,” she said.

While the hands-on work, the Strohms provide has been instrumental in the Pantry’s success, they also contribute in another way.

“It was our friendship with Barbara and Roger Schmidt that attracted us at first,” she said. “We were so impressed that the whole operation was run by volunteers at the time. The Pantry grew by finding partners and only spending money when they absolutely had to. When we saw what good stewards they were of the resources they had, we began donating money as well.”

Chuck says his primary responsibility is to serve neighbors in need in a way that is welcoming and safe. “We want to relieve people’s concerns and make sure they know there will always be food for them. That’s our responsibility.”

“I’ve been volunteering this long because we help provide an essential service with a feeling of warmth and care,” Fran added. “There are so many people in DuPage and Will counties who need us. We see more people than ever before. And we’re being good stewards of the Pantry’s resources. When you think that over 90% of the money that comes in goes directly to services, that’s a really good feeling.”

West Suburban Community Pantry provides food and resources to people facing hunger, unlocking access to nutritious meals and strengthening hope for tomorrow.

Rooted in the community for 55 years, the pantry offers an in-person food pantry in Woodridge, Online Market with Door Dash delivery option, and senior home delivery to households in DuPage and Will counties.

The pantry also offers a variety of child-focused programs during the school year and in the summer months. Support services connect families to financial assistance, community resources and a variety of free workshops for both adults and children. Visit www.wscpantry.org and Facebook and Instagram to learn more.