Lisle preparing for winter clothing drive

The director of the Lisle Township Food Pantry was distributing packages to families in need this week when she noticed a young mother with only a sweater to protect her from the cold.

It’s the kind of sight, Lois Biggins says, that serves as a reminder that there are plenty of families that could use help with more than just food as we head into winter.

Which is why Biggins, who heads the pantry, says she’s grateful the Lisle Convention & Visitors Bureau will launch a two-month drive beginning Nov. 1 to collect new hats, gloves and scarves for children and others in need.

Katie Palombit, the convention bureau services coordinator, says the group will place a collection box in the Lisle village hall lobby at 925 Burlington Ave. with a goal of gathering roughly 200 items that then will be distributed by the township food pantry. Residents will be able to drop off donations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 31.

Palombit says the bureau has sponsored food drives in the past and recently collected more than 150 cellphones for members of the military. She said the group was looking at different options to help youngsters this holiday season and settled on the winter clothing drive.

“We think it will go over very well,” she said.

Biggins says the township pantry at 4711 Indiana Ave., Lisle, provides food for roughly 125 to 135 families a month. She said many of the clothing donations will be distributed to those families and others will be put in holiday packages the township prepares for low-income families with children.

For details on the drive, contact Palombit by calling (630) 769-1000 or by email at palombit@stayinlisle.com.