Food Pantry closes following electrical outage

WOODRIDGE - The West Suburban Community Pantry said its Pantry Store in Woodridge remains closed following an electrical outage affecting its air conditioning and refrigeration systems.

The outage occurred Wednesday and the store will remain temporarily closed through at least Thursday, June 23.

Executive Director Laura Coyle made the announcement in order to ensure the safety and well-being of customers, volunteers and staff.

"Due to the extraordinary high temperatures this week, we have experienced the failure of both the air conditioning in our Pantry building and the loss of our commercial refrigerators and freezers. Our first priority is to ensure food is safely stored and handled, and under the current conditions that is impossible," Coyle said.

The Pantry is reaching out to other food banks in the area to refer customers to during this time, while the agency has its equipment diagnosed, repaired or replaced.

"We are looking at an estimated $30,000 in unanticipated expense in addition to the loss of food we have suffered this week," Coyle said. "We are working with urgency to get back online to serve our customers safely and conveniently as soon as possible."

For updated information on Pantry Store reopening and hours, visit www.wscpantry.com.