Going the distance: Mount Prospect employee running to raise money for village food pantry

A Mount Prospect employee plans to go the distance on behalf of the village’s food pantry.

Much of William Schroeder’s day job as Mount Prospect’s director of building and inspection services involves helping people.

He responds to residents’ questions, helps with plan review and handles inspections.

“I really enjoy working with the community and helping residents,” he said.

Next weekend, he will be using his extracurricular interest — running marathons — to help out the village’s Human Services Department’s food pantry.

He will compete inside the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 7 and 8, running in the USA Gold Medal Challenge at the Pettit Indoor Marathon.

On March 7, he runs a half marathon as a warmup — a mere two-hour and 15-minute limit. The next day, he will tackle the full marathon with a six-hour limit to wrap up the challenge. The total mileage is 39.3 miles for the two events.

As he completes the approximately 144 laps, Schroeder hopes to rack up funds for the food pantry, located in village hall at 50 S. Emerson St.

He established a GoFundMe account to take donations, noting he is not sponsored by the village nor the food pantry.

The event is among eight to 10 marathons and ultramarathons Schroeder runs each year throughout the country — having run marathons in Wisconsin, Arizona and Utah, as well as Illinois.

“This is the first one that I’m actually doing by myself as a charity,” he said.

He has taken part in other organization’s fundraisers, including races that donate to women’s shelters.

This year, Schroeder is focusing on helping out the village’s efforts to battle food insecurity. He complimented the village’s Human Services team’s efforts.

“I thought it was a great thing to raise some funds and also bring awareness,” he said. “No one should go hungry.”

For Schroeder, the cause is personal. He said he grew up in a big family in Villa Park.

“With 10 family members in the household, we had some tough times, and times where we had to use a food pantry,” he said. “That kind of resounds with me a little bit.”

His fundraising goal is around $1,500, but he may easily surpass that.

“The community and the employees here have been very supportive,” he said.

Human Services Director Julie Kane called Schroeder’s gesture “incredibly thoughtful,” adding the pantry starts to see specific items dwindling by summer, so monetary donations help the pantry restock.

For more information on the food pantry and the village’s Emergency Assistance Program, call (847) 870-5680.