Demand is up for FISH Food Pantry

Grateful is only one adjective volunteers at the FISH Food Pantry are using to describe the outpouring of support area residents showed during the recent holiday season. Overwhelmed, appreciated, and thankful are others.

In November, FISH President Mary Graziano said families at the Carpentersville-based pantry serves should not expect to receive frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving or Christmas because they are expensive and she does not have the freezer space to store them.

That did not stop residents from donating enough turkeys to fill a small truck.

"One gentleman donated 100 turkeys," she said. "Another 64 turkeys came in after the West Dundee firefighter meat raffle. I received a telephone call from someone who told me he was bringing in a dozen turkeys."

Other people brought two, four and six turkeys to the pantry. Volunteers found space to store them until they were given families to thaw and roast for the holidays.

"It was wonderful to see how much the community cares that families had turkey to eat for the holidays," she said. "Jewel Food Store (in West Dundee) even donated 75-80 precooked dinners for us to give to clients."

With the demand for food during the holidays, most of the turkeys are gone, and now volunteers can concentrate on continuing to meet the post-holiday demand for food that East and West Dundee, Carpentersville, and Sleepy Hollow residents cannot afford to buy themselves.

Winter months have always created an increased demand for food from FISH. Many families are living on little or no income because they have seasonal landscaping jobs and have been laid off. Others have jobs, but they do not earn enough to pay their monthly bills.

In 2014, FISH provided food for 6,375 families, or 32,497 people, in Dundee Township.

"It would have been more, but we were closed the day before Christmas and the day before New Year's Day," Graziano said.

In 2013, 6,018 families, or 29,947 people, received food from FISH.

When schools are closed for winter break or snow days, families cannot depend on government subsidized meals.

Clients are able to turn to FISH once a month to keep their cupboards full. They also receive personal care items such as infant diapers, toothpaste, tooth brushes, soap, and deodorant.

The pantry is at 150 S. Kennedy Drive in Carpentersville. For details, call (847) 428-4357.