Chicago food pantries say the holiday season is the time of the year they receive the most donations but it is also the time of year when they experience the highest number of people needing food. And with the nation's grim economy and Illinois' unemployment rates soaring, more and more Chicagoans are turning to their local food pantries for help than in previous years.
The Greater Chicago Food Depository ( GCFD ) reports the number of people going to food pantries in 2008 has increased 33 percent compared 2007, said Bob Dolgan, director of communications at the GCFD, who distributes food to 600 food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens in Cook County.
The GFCD has also distributed a record-breaking amount of food this year, said Dolgan. The Depository gave out 37 percent more food from June to December than the same period of last year, he said.
Lakeview Pantry, 3831 N. Broadway, whose majority of food comes from the GFCD food bank, has had a 15 percent increase of clients, said Gary Garland, executive director of the North Side pantry that has been around for 38 years and serves about 2,000 people. And with no optimistic outlook on the economy improving, Garland expected those people are still going to need their services after the holidays.
However, the problem for many pantries is twofold. While demand for their services is high, donations are low.
St. James Food Pantry, 2907 S. Wabash, has experienced a rise of 200-300 more people every month coming to the pantry for food for the past three months, said Cathy Moore, the facility's coordinator. Moore said while they have not run out of food, the pantry could not give every one of the two thousand families they serve a turkey for Thanksgiving.
Carrie McCormack, coordinator for Lakeview Pantry's west location, 1414 W. Oakdale, said donations in October were down 20,000 pounds ( or $50,000 worth of food ) compared to the same month in 2007.
Yami Newell, the GCFD agency coordinator for Lakeview Pantry, said the poundage from local retailers who regularly donate food to GCFD has decreased and they have had to purchase food to make up the difference.
The money the GCFD uses to purchase that food from manufacturers mostly comes from individual donations, said Dolgan. A few years ago the GCFD started a virtual food drive online for people to donate money that will go towards the Depository's food purchases, he said. Donations can be made at ChicagosFoodBank.org .
Even though donations are down from last holiday season, some pantries still claim to be experiencing tremendous community outreach for donations and food drives.
The St. Vincent DePaul Hagerty Food Pantry, 4200 N. Sheridan, has had a 20-30 percent increase of people coming for food compared to last year, said coordinator Socorro Munoz, but said the pantry is very lucky to have many generous people donating food to help with the 800 people the pantry served in November.
But Chicago pantries fear the biggest challenge is yet to come.
Since many food pantries, like North Side Grocery Center—the food-pantry arm of HIV/AIDS agency Vital Bridges—receive federal and state government funding, they realize their yearly budgets could be cut because of the troubled economy.
Lori Cannon, co-founder and program coordinator for the grocery center that celebrated its 14th anniversary the week of Thanksgiving, said she won't see the full impact of the poor economy until next year and expects all non-for-profits to suffer from lower funding in 2009.
"Belt tightening is going to have to happen," said Cannon.
Yet, despite the challenges many Chicago pantries are facing, Cannon has not lost all hope.
"I'm staying optimistic," she said.
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Where to donate
Many Chicago pantries are having their annual holiday food drives and all non-perishable food item donations are welcome. Here is where and when people can donate:
—Lakeview Pantry-East ( 3831 N. Broadway; 773-525-7718 ) : Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. ( Call before dropping off donations. ) This pantry will also take clothing, hygiene and household items.
—Lakeview Pantry-West ( 1414 W. Oakdale; 773-404-6333 ) : Tuesday and Thursday 6:30-8 p.m. and Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. ( Call before dropping off donations. ) This pantry will also take clothing, hygiene and household items.
—North Side Grocery Center ( 5543 N. Broadway; 773-271-5110 ) : People can donate Tuesday 12-6 p.m.; Thursday 12-3 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.; and Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Donations of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables as well as personal and household items like dish soap and paper towels are encouraged.
—St. James Food Pantry ( 2907 S. Wabash; 312-842-1919 ) : People can donate every Sunday. ( Call to set up a time to drop off a donation. )
—St. Vincent DePaul Hagerty Food Pantry ( 4200 N. Sheridan; 773-525-8610 ) : Donation bins are open every day 8:30 a.m.-1 a.m.
