Food Pantries Must Compensate to Aid More Families

More young children and families living in Illinois have had to seek assistance with food this year, according to a 2010 report by Feeding Illinois, a food-distribution organization.

The report found that in 2009, food banks provided emergency food to 1.4 million Illinois residents, which is one out of 10 men, women and children in the state.

Common Pantry is a food pantry located

in the 47^th Ward in the basement of Epiphany United Church of Christ at 3744 N. Damen Ave.

Scott Best, the executive director at Common Pantry, said he has noticed more families attending the pantry in the last year.

“The one big thing that I’ve seen is it’s more common now to see a family of four,

for example, rather than just a single guy or a single person,” Best said. “Both kids under 5 and seniors over 65 have each increased about 10 percent in the last year.”

Common Pantry’s records show that an average of 309 client families were served per month in 2010, a 20 percent increase from the number of families served in 2008.

The Feeding Illinois report would concur with Best. The report interviewed 1,929 clients at food pantries, kitchens and shelters across Illinois. It concluded that 42 percent of those receiving food from a shelter were under 18 and 9 percent were children under 5 years old.

The national average for children until 18 who receive assistance with food is only slightly lower, at 39.6 percent.

Tracy Smith, the state director for Feeding Illinois, said many Illinois food banks that she has spoken with have experienced a 50-percent client increase over the last year.

“They’re definitely seeing a new face of hunger. They’re seeing people who are middle class and who are unemployed — who were previously supporters of the food bank and are now coming to them for services,” she said.

Epiphany United Church of Christ also provides a complimentary meal every Wednesday, which Common Pantry patrons are welcome to attend.

Julie Hobert, who has volunteered at the meal for eight years, said she has seen more kids coming to the meal and the pantry in the last year. The increase has been so noticeable, she said, that the church recently started an arts and crafts time for kids on Wednesday nights.

Some Common Pantry patrons, who did not want their full names used, also said they have noticed more single moms and kids attending the pantry.

Paul, a 30-year-old who attends the dinner provided by the church about three times a month, said he observes more men attending the dinner, but he has seen more women shopping at the pantry.

Charles, a 35-year-old who comes to the pantry once a month, said he has noticed an increase in the single mothers with toddlers who visit the pantry.

Wendy Vasquez, the executive director of Ravenswood Community Services, another food pantry in the 47^th Ward, said between 2008 and 2009, the pantry experienced a 112 percent increase in patrons.

“We had been seeing participation in our pantry just skyrocket and the food depository actually contacted us and said, ‘We know that your area in the city is an area of great, unmet need.’”

So in October 2009, Vasquez said the Greater Chicago Food Depository helped them start a once-a-month food drive in the parking lot of Ravenswood School. The drive specifically targets larger families with children.

“We specifically promote it through the public schools in the neighborhood and so that one does tend to be mostly families with younger kids,” Vasquez said.