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Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry
seeks donations by Bonnie MacKay To further help the food pantry, Cotton will be placing a bin in her salon for drop-off of non-perishable items. Donations, including health and beauty items such as toothpaste or shampoo, may be dropped off at the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry Monday, Wednesday or Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon. For those unable to make a drop-off on those three days, Kaiser can make arrangements for a special pick-up by calling him at 630-627-2508. Checks may be made out to the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry and mailed to the food pantry at 155 S. Main St., Lombard, IL 60148. “We have been very lucky up until now,” Kaiser said. An organization that helps close to 150 families each week is seeking assistance itself and turning to the community for that help. “This is the first time I have had to go out and look for money,” said Bill Kaiser, coordinator of the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry. “We’ve always been in good shape.” Kaiser, who has worked at the food pantry since 1985 and has run it since 1989, said the downturn in the economy has had an effect on the food pantry—which is now having a problem keeping its shelves stocked. “What we really have a hard time keeping in is tuna,” Kaiser related. But canned tuna is just one of the food items that Kaiser is looking for, along with other non-perishable donations, as well as monetary donations. The Lombard/Villa Park Food Pantry, which is located in the First United Methodist Church at 155 S. Main St., Lombard, serves residents of Lombard, Villa Park and Oakbrook Terrace. It is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon. Kaiser said a year and a half ago, the pantry was serving between 40 and 45 families a day. “The other day we served 60 families,” Kaiser said, adding that the pantry has been serving families totalling just under or above 50 in recent times. With monetary donations, the food pantry is able to purchase most of its food items from the Northern Illinois Food Bank, which delivers the items once a month. By purchasing from the food bank, the food pantry’s money goes farther as the food is purchased “by the pound,” Kaiser explained. In the weeks when there is no food delivery, the coordinator said volunteers are able to pick up the food to keep the shelves stocked. The food pantry also gets food items from the federal government. The Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry accepts non-perishable items, as well as fresh items. Kaiser said the pantry has a big refrigerator and its own 27-cubic foot freezer, so unlike some food pantries fresh items can also be accepted. Families can visit the food pantry twice a month. “They can help themselves to the food on the shelves and fill one paper grocery bag,” Kaiser said, adding that the bags are donated by Mr. Z’s. In addition, they also receive frozen, fresh and excess food. “People can out go out of here with three or four bags of food,” Kaiser said. A downtown Lombard business, Feel Good Hair Salon and Spa, 1 N. Main St., has heard the call and will be holding a Cut-a-Thon on Sunday, May 3, during the Lilac Time Art and Craft Fair. According to salon owner Kim Cotton, she will be offering a haircut or pedicure for $20, or a 10-minute back massage for $10. No advance appointments will be taken as there will be a sign-up sheet the day of the Cut-a-Thon. Customers will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. “That way they can shop at the art and craft fair and come back at the designated time,” Cotton said, adding that 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry and Lombard Town Centre. To further help the food pantry, Cotton will be placing a bin in her salon for drop-off of non-perishable items. Donations, including health and beauty items such as toothpaste or shampoo, may be dropped off at the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry Monday, Wednesday or Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon. For those unable to make a drop-off on those three days, Kaiser can make arrangements for a special pick-up by calling him at 630-627-2508. Checks may be made out to the Lombard-Villa Park Food Pantry and mailed to the food pantry at 155 S. Main St., Lombard, IL 60148. “We have been very lucky up until now,” Kaiser said. Source : Lombardian |
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