About
“Working together to provide hunger relief in our community.”
Current Trends
Each month, the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry serves over 450 families from Oak Park, River Forest and the surrounding communities. In 2007, 5166 families totaling 16,615 individuals were served. Since 2005, the Pantry has seen a 95% increase in the number of clients seeking supplemental food.
A program of the Community of Congregations (a 501(c)3 organization) the OPRF Food Pantry is staffed by 2 part-time operations managers and over 125 volunteers. Although we are sponsored by the communities of Oak Park and River Forest, we serve clients from surrounding communities within Cook County as well. All clients must meet income guidelines and are limited to service once per month. Photo ID and proof of residency 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
- The OPRF Food Pantry is a program of the OPRF Community of Congregations.
- The OPRF Food Pantry partners with the Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program to provide food gift certificates and gifts at the holiday season.
- The OPRF Food Pantry is a member agency of the Greater Chicago Food Depository
- The OPRF Food Pantry is a member of the Illinois Hunger Coalition
- First United Church of Oak Park
- Oak Park 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.
Website Credits
This website was made possible by a generous unrestricted gift to the OPRF Food Pantry. Website design and development by Megan Coleman.