Community rallies to stuff local food pantries, as need surges

Stocking the shelves at local food pantries is always a challenge, but recently township officials faced a different problem:

Where to put all the food.

North Shore communities stepped up to the moment in October and November as the government shutdown threatened funding for the long-standing food-security program SNAP and the thousands of locals the program supports.

New Trier, Moraine and Niles township representatives all recently celebrated their respective pantries’ full shelves.

“The response from the community to the suspension of SNAP benefits was overwhelming,” said Gail Eisenberg, the New Trier Township supervisor. “The generosity was really moving. Pretty much every space in the building was filled with food donations.”

To learn more about your local food pantry, their programs and their needs, visit the webpages for:
• New Trier Township (Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield)
• Moraine Township (Highland Park, Highwood)
• Niles Township (Skokie, Morton Grove, Niles)

The federal government shutdown began Oct. 1 and lasted more than 40 days. During that time, SNAP benefits — which provide grocery support to more than 41 million people nationwide — were either paused or delayed, forcing many of the program’s users to look elsewhere for food security.

Across the state, food pantries have stepped up to fill the gap.

Families must apply to access a township food pantry that shelves grocery items for low-incoming local families. Food pantries collect donated items, but also encourage financial contributions, which provide flexibility while purchasing significantly discounted items to keep their shelves stocked.

In New Trier Township, once approved, families can fill a bag every other week with pantry staples and hygiene items. On top of that, the New Trier pantry also regularly stocks supplemental offerings, such as bakery donations and holiday giveaways, according to Eisenberg.

Across New Trier Township, Eisenberg said, more than 1,000 residents rely on SNAP benefits, and the township food pantry has approximately 280 families registered, a 21% jump from March (232 families).

In Niles Township, officials told The Record they immediately started to see an increase in food-pantry usage during the government shutdown. About 200 users are visiting the Niles pantry per day, an approximately 67% increase from before the shutdown, officials say.

An increase has also been tracked across the region. According to the Northern Illinois Food Bank, food-pantry visits increased 8% during the government shutdown, a number that equates to 22,000 more families.

Amid the shutdown, townships partnered with other agencies, such as village and park districts, to set up more dropoff locations for longer-term food drives.

Local organizers chipped in, hosting impromptu events to collect pantry contributions, and volunteers helped out on site to organize the increased inventory.

“It was a very stressful period. … This was a moment of extreme generosity,” said Eisenberg, who added that the excess has allowed the pantry to provide “off-week” service to its users.

Moraine Township also saw significant community support to feed the need.

The township posted on social media Nov. 17 that its “shelves are full.”

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Though SNAP benefits were set for restoration on Nov. 20, Eisenberg still anticipates increased demand in the township’s food pantry.

She said SNAP can provide about $6 worth of food per day and does not support other household needs, such as hygiene and paper products.

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