As SNAP freeze looms, how you can help feed the need at NT Township Food Pantry

Approximately 1,000 New Trier Township residents are set to lose an “important lifeline” because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Benefits funded through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP, are set to be cut off by the federal government as of Saturday, Nov. 1, putting many local residents in need of food assistance.

Township Supervisor Gail S. Eisenberg said Tuesday, Oct. 28 during the Wilmette Village Board meeting that for every eight meals that are provided through SNAP, the township food pantry can only provide one.

According to information from the Vlllage of Wilmette, the New Trier Township Food Pantry currently supports around 150 households per month, serving about 300 people. The pantry has already seen “increased usage due to inflation,” township officials said, adding that they’re expecting that demand to rise when SNAP funding expires.

“We’re expecting to see a huge increase in the amount of need at the New Trier Township food pantry and we will not be able to meet that need without everybody in our community,” Eisenberg said.

To address the growing need, New Trier Township announced Wednesday an intergovernmental partnership with the Village of Wilmette, Wilmette Park District and Wilmette Public Library.

Starting on Nov. 1, each organization will serve as a collection site for nonperishable food donations. Donation drop-off locations and hours are:

• Wilmette Village Hall lobby, 1200 Wilmette Ave.: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday

• Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Ave.: 9 a.m.-9 p.m, Monday–Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday.

• Wilmette Park District — Community Recreation Center front desk, 3000 Glenview Road: 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday–Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday–Sunday

• Wilmette Park District — Centennial Recreation Complex, 2300 Old Glenview Road: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday–Friday; 6 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday; and 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday

Priority needs are: cookies, crackers and granola bars; pasta and pasta sauce; salad dressing and salsa; cooking oil and condiments; canned fruit; canned chicken, tuna and salmon; brown and white rice; toothpaste and mouthwash; plastic storage bags; and cleaning supplies.

Village officials said the pantry will also be providing additional support to those who receive SNAP.

Eisenberg also told trustees that the township is noticing some residents expressing hesitation to even come visit the pantry given the current presence of federal enforcement agencies in the north suburbs.

“We are seeing residents who are too scared to come to take care of their most basic needs, to obtain food in our food pantry, because of current immigration enforcement,” Eisenberg said. “We’ve worked with them in any way we can, using taxis and intermediaries to ensure those families are taken care of.”

Those interested in learning more or making a donation to the township food pantry should visit newtriertownship.com.

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