Advocates for the Niles Township Food Pantry are calling on volunteers for more assistance, as the need for its services has risen.

"This year has been the worst in five years," said pantry director and Morton Grove resident Cynthia Carranza. 

The Niles Township Food Pantry currently serves 2,700 people in 1,100 households per month, according to Carranza.  She said that she fears these numbers will continue to rise due to unemployment and the current economic climate. 

The pantry recently completed its relocation to the Annex Building behind the Niles Township Government Building.  The pantry's new home is located at 5255 Main - Annex in Skokie, near the Lincoln/Main fork.  The new phone number to the pantry is (847) 983-0073.

Carranza hopes to give people peace of mind that there is always somewhere they can turn to for help.  She recently posted a sign in the food pantry that reads, "You can count on us to be here when you need us." 

The Food Pantry as a Community Resource

The director views the pantry as a community resource. "I would like people to take ownership in the food pantry – not just the people who need us, but also the people who want to get involved."

The overall goal of the Pantry is to serve healthy, quality food with dignity, but it also provides more than food to its patrons. 

Due to overwhelming requests, the pantry has distributed new school supplies to needy school children for the past two years.  Since there is no money for school supplies in the already overstretched budget, this program has relied strictly on donations. 

The collection effort was spearheaded by the Morton Grove Moms group in its first year, and taken up by the Morton Grove Public Library last year.  The pantry hopes to enlist the help of community activists and local businesses to make the School Supply Drive an annual event.

A National Problem

Morton Grove resident Cynthia Changyit Levin has made ending hunger one of her priorities since serving on the Board of Directors for RESULTS, a national advocacy group working to end hunger and poverty. 

"Food pantries are critical providers of nutrition since 50 million Americans are struggling against hunger, including 17.2 million kids," she said. "That means one in four children are 'food insecure' and may not know where their next meal is coming from."

She added that the numbers may be larger today since the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the report in 2009. "We do have a federal safety net that helps with things like school lunch programs and SNAP benefits (commonly known as food stamps), but there are big gaps in the system," she said.  

"That's where pantries, like ours, and soup kitchens pick up the slack." 

How to Apply

To become a Niles Township Food Pantry client, one must provide proof of residency within Niles Township. 

The boundaries are Central Avenue, from 10075 to the north; Devon Avenue, from 6400 to the south; McCormick Avenue, 3200 to the east; and Harlem Avenue, 7200 to the West. 

Suburbs included in these boundaries are Morton Grove, Skokie, Lincolnwood, Niles, and Golf. 

Prospective clients should visit the pantry with a valid photo ID to determine eligibility and to set an appointment to register for services.   

The pantry is open from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. during weekdays, and is closed on Saturday and Sunday.  It is also closed on the last two days of each month to restock the shelves.

How to Serve

The Niles Township Board of Trustees recently created a Niles Township Food Pantry Foundation, which has been granted 501c(3) status.  This classifies the pantry as a tax-exempt non-profit charity.  All donations are tax-deductible.

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please mail a check to the Niles Township Food Pantry Foundation, 5255 Main St., Skokie, IL 60077. 

Checks, cash, and donations may also be dropped off at the pantry during normal operating hours. 

While monetary gifts are preferred, donations of any kind are welcome.  Food (both perishable and non-perishable), personal hygiene items, new school supplies, new toys or gifts, etc. are appreciated.  Clothing is not accepted at this time.

If you would like to volunteer your time or learn more, please e-mail Director Carranza at nilesfood@ameritech.net or visit the Friends of the Niles Township Food Pantry Facebook page.

The author of this article contributes  and volunteers for the pantry but is not a Niles Township Food Pantry employee or a member of the Foundation board.