People's Resource Center puts out call for food pantry volunteers

The People's Resource Center is asking for volunteer help to continue running its food pantries in Wheaton and Westmont.

As a precaution due to the coronavirus, the nonprofit group has suspended personal shopping at the food pantries and switched to a delivery process to provide prepackaged food to parked cars for pickup.

In Wheaton, the temporary distribution hours are 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. Mondays and Tuesdays; 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays; and 9 to 11:45 a.m. Saturdays. In Westmont, volunteers will distribute food from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; and 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. Saturdays.

Those hours are subject to change based on public health recommendations, so people should check for updates at Peoplesrc.org or call an automated attendant at (630) 682-5402.

Since adopting the drive-through March 14, People's Resource Center has served more than 600 families. The West Chicago Community Market, run in partnership with the WeGo Together for Kids Coalition, served 100 families - up from an average of 55 per week.

"During this unprecedented time, the families who turn to the PRC community for support face even more uncertainty. We fully anticipate that the need for food and other emergency services will continue to grow," Executive Director Jeni Fabian said in a news release. "Sources of food are also uncertain at this time, and we may need to purchase quantities of food that would typically be donated."

The agency needs donations of food, cleaning and hygiene products. It also needs volunteers who can work 3-hour shifts both in the pantry and outdoors.

Visit Peoplesrc.org/volunteers for more information. Monetary contributions also can be made online.