About
“Working together to provide hunger relief in our community.”
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In its effort to provide hunger relief in 2010, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry provided nutritious groceries, produce, meat and dairy products to 13,916 local families comprised of 48,567 individuals. This represents a 26% increase from 2009 visits to the Pantry. Each month, volunteers donate over 1230 hours of labor helping to feed their hungry neighbors. The value of that donated labor in 2010 was $97,655.
Pantry partnerships were developed and strengthened in 2010. The Pantry collaborated with Oak Park River Forest Area Walk-In Ministry (WIM) to apply for funding for a shared temporary staff position. When that funding was granted, a Jesuit Volunteer Corps member (Amy Brogioli) was brought on to serve as “Resource Gleaner” for both organizations. For the Pantry, Amy recruited vendors to donate fresh, but not perfect produce and other products. For WIM, Amy researched appropriate referral agencies for clients in need. For example if a client needs a new pair of glasses, Amy helped locate an organization to work with the client. A partnership with West Suburban PADS and AmeriCorps follows a similar pattern: two organizations share the expenses for one Service Learner who provides client services for both organizations. In this case, the collaboration has allowed the Pantry to help clients obtain government benefits such as SNAP (“food stamps”) and All Kids coverage.
In 2010, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry moved from being a program of the Community of Congregations to a partner with them. Separate 501c3 status has been granted to the Pantry and it is registered with the state of Illinois as a recognized charitable organization. Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry is staffed by a variety of part-time positions: an executive director (Kathy Russell), a Director of Operations (Michele Zurakowski), a Pantry Manager (Paula Berg), a Volunteer Manager (Kristi Braun), an AmeriCorps member who serves as a Benefits Coordinator (Hallie Trauger), a Jesuit Volunteer Corps member who serves as a Resource Gleaner (Ben Kocarnik) a bookkeeper/administrative assistant (Dawn Altman) and over 350 volunteers.
Although we are sponsored in large part by the communities of Oak Park and River Forest, we serve clients from many surrounding communities within Cook County as well—28 zip codes in all. (Click on the SERVICES tab for a list of all communities within our service boundaries.) All clients must meet income guidelines and are limited to service once per month. Photo ID and proof of residency within our service boundaries are required for service.
Food Procurement
We procure food from a number of sources.
- USDA commodities are provided monthly through the Illinois Emergency Food Assistance Program.
- Purchases through Greater Chicago Food Depository — GCFD at an average cost of seven cents per pound.
- Generous weekly donations of food from individuals, groups and congregations within the communities of Oak Park and River Forest.
- Larger food drives are organized by Vista 9 Girl Scouts in the Fall and local Postal Workers in the Spring.
- “Food Rescue” operations with local grocery stores of fresh, but not perfect, produce.
Affiliations
- Oak Park River Forest Area Walk-In Ministry, housed in the First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake Street, Oak Park, enter via parking lot on Kenilworth and proceed to basement. Hours 10-11am Monday through Saturday.
- Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry partners with OPRF Community of Congregations involving faith-based communities in service to end hunger.
- Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry is a member agency of the Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry is a member of the Illinois Hunger Coalition
- Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry is a resident mission of First United Church of Oak Park
Partners
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our philanthropic partners:
- The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association
- The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation including the Future Philanthropist Grant Program
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
- Kraft Foods “Feeding Possibilities”
- Greater Chicago Food Depository — GCFD
- George M. Eisenberg Foundation for Charities
- Rush University Medical Center “You Care”
Website Credits
This website was made possible by a generous unrestricted gift to the OPRF Food Pantry. Website design and development by Megan Coleman.