Pantry to Adjust Service Area in 2012
Oct 18, 2011
Sky-rocketing food costs and the end of stimulus support means that USDA commodity support to food pantries across the country has been slashed. For us, that means a 50% reduction in USDA support overall and the elimination of most USDA-supplied protein-rich items like milk, cheese and frozen meat. Facing the same obstacles as the USDA, our regional food bank has lowered its subsidization of our food costs by 25%.
The well-being of our clients is our top priority. So we will continue to purchase protein-rich foods despite the rising costs. But in order to meet the nutritional needs of our most vulnerable clients, we will no longer be able to support communities where other food pantries provide assistance. We need to focus our resources on communities where food needs are not being sufficiently met by others.
Beginning January 1, 2012 we will serve clients from our 12 zip codes of greatest need: Austin (60644, 60651), Berwyn (60402), Elmwood Park (60707), Forest Park (60130), Franklin Park (60131), Humboldt Park (60651), Oak Park/River Forest (60301, 60302, 60304, 60305), River Grove (60171) and Schiller Park (60176). We will continue to serve all currently eligible clients throughout the rest of 2011. (See the “Services” tab for a complete list of current zip codes.) These zip codes cover 65% of our current clients.
The reduction in service area was determined in consultation with expert advisers from Greater Chicago Food Depository, our regional food bank. Only areas where other established food pantries exist were removed from our service area, so no one will be left without access to emergency food as a result of this change.
It’s painful to tell some people they won’t be able to return to our food pantry. But we need to be careful stewards of our resources so we are able to remain a strong safety net for those without other recourse.