Colder weather brings demand for food at FISH pantry

Volunteers at the FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville are going into the cool weather with more clients than resources to fill their shopping bags.

Cupboards are low and lines of people wanting food are becoming longer, said pantry President Marilyn Mack. To make matters worse, money to buy perishable food and pay the pantry's utility bills is just as low.

“All the food we receive is not from donations,” Mack said. “We buy from $5,000 to $6,000 a month in ground beef, chicken, pancake syrup, cooking oil and applesauce.”

These days, those items and the pasta, canned soup, peanut butter and other nonperishable items are being given to more unemployed and underemployed residents of Carpentersville, East and West Dundee and Sleepy Hollow who cannot afford to buy food for their families.

The numbers have been growing this month. And if they continue, they will exceed August's demand when 409 families, representing 2,000 people, needed FISH's help. Mack said.

“We saw a decrease in September. Three hundred sixty five families asked for food last month,” she said. “At this point we have seen better days.”

If they meet residency requirements, the clients receive food once a month. Also, they can apply for food stamps at the pantry, which would allow them to buy food in some supermarkets.

Usually, the demand for food at the Route 25 pantry increases at the end of October when many landscapers and other seasonal laborers are laid off for the year. The recession has broken that cycle. Now, the demand is year-round.

Local generosity is also year-round. Residents have regularly donated canned foods or vegetables from their gardens. Groups and elementary and middle school students have donated to food drives.

This month Dundee Township Park District employees are expected to donate nonperishable food they collect from their annual Halloween events drive.

Still, the money is low.

“When people think of a food pantry, they naturally contribute food. We are blessed with neighbors who are so caring,” she said. “But we need monetary donations.”

FISH is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. For information, call (847) 428-4357.