We serve residents of Evergreen Park, IL who are in need of food. Our primary food supplier is the Greater Chicago Area Food Depository who currently delivers food to our pantry once a month. We normally provide food for 35 to 45 families each week (140 to 225 families per month depending upon whether there is 4 or five weeks between monthly deliveries). We typically receive canned foods (pasta sauce, beans, fruit, tuna, chicken, beef, soups and vegetables) breakfast cereals, spaghetti, rice, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni & cheese and oatmeal. We also receive frozen meat, cheese, eggs, milk, bread and eggs. Very rarely will we receive fresh produces that is actually fresh.
We normally are only able to order enough milk, eggs and produce for one week because they have a short shelf life by the time we get them from GCFD. Since the beginning of 2022 we are noticing many new families coming to us for assistance. They are telling us that increasing food and gas prices are making it very difficult to make ends meet. We are also noticing that many food items that had been available through GCFD are no longer being provided even when they are we order them (they show up as being available on the GCFD ordering system but are not delivered on the delivery date). We get the feeling that this economy is very sick just below the service and that we will soon be seeing a significant increase in need. With regards to our needs we are primarily seeking more sources of meat, eggs, bread, milk and fresh produce that can be delivered more frequently than one day per month. The meat, eggs, bread and milk we receive from GCFD is only enough to provide for about one third of our current demand. We have been buying these products from cash provided by donations to ensure that our patrons are receiving enough food.
This listing was last updated Mar 10, 2022
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We can accept food at non-scheduled times (only at our pantry location). Our pantry is located in a retired fire house at the corner of Washtenaw and 98th Place in Evergreen Park, IL
Please call us before dropping off any food items because our pantry is only open to patrons on Fridays between 9:30 AM and noon. One of our volunteers will arrange to meet food donors at times convenient to the donor. We have plenty of refrigeration and freezer space.
ProducePedia
ProducePedia is a free resource that covers the types of fresh produce that can be delivered to food pantries. Each entry includes information on color, taste, and possible uses. People unfamiliar with the vegetable or fruit will learn how to use it, and those who are familiar with it still might learn a fun fact or two!
The Cooperative Extension sites have a wealth of information for any backyard gardener. Once you go to the site (each one if very different from the others) look for a link for “homes and gardens”, “landscape”, “consumer horticulture”, etc. to find information on improving your backyard garden. Neighboring state sites may offer information your own state’s site lacks.
