School lunches take some pressure off food pantry

Nobody is as happy to see school back in session as the volunteers of Dundee Township's FISH Food Pantry.

Having the students back in the classrooms means the summer crush for food will be put away for another year. Instead of cash-strapped families feeding their children breakfasts and lunches seven days a week, schools' government-funded meal programs will pick up some of the slack.

“Making it through the summer and being able to provide food is a big thing for us,” said pantry President Mary Graziano. “Now, these programs will take some of the pressure off the pantry.”

During each of the summer months, pantry volunteers put food on the table of 525 families. Considering the average family is 5.5 people, that amounts to 2,887 people who benefitted from the Carpentersville-based pantry, Graziano said.

Fortunately, the pantry has generous neighbors who regularly donated money, food, and fresh vegetables from their gardens.

“Gardeners have been good to us though the years,” she said. “This year we have so much zucchini. It must be a good year for zucchini. They have also given us tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers,” she added.

As soon as the homegrown produce comes in, pantry volunteers give it to the families who live in Carpentersville, East and West Dundee, and Sleepy Hollow.

Volunteers are additionally happy that the end of summer recess heralds the continuance of food drives many schools conduct until they break again in May. When these are added to donations from churches and other groups, FISH volunteers can continue their boasts of never being forced to turn away a needy family in the 45 years it has been open.

“That's quite a thing to be proud of,” she said.

Many times shelves have been close to bare, but neighbors have always helped fill them with food and money. The cash and checks allow volunteers to buy perishable items such as eggs and cheese from the Northern Illinois Food Bank. It also helps pay the cost of utilities in the pantry, which is in the Meadowdale Shopping Center.

Until the local food drives start again, pantry volunteers need to restock their shelves with food, toiletries and baby diapers. Also, they need to rejuvenate their force with volunteers who can help shop for and load the food items.

The pantry is open from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It is also open 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday.

For details, call the pantry at (847) 428-4357.