Junior Woman's Club, West Suburban Community Pantry Collecting School Supplies

Donations may be any school supplies including notebooks, crayons, pencils, and backpacks.

The Woodridge Junior Woman's Club and the West Suburban Community Pantry are partnering to "Start the Year Off Great, for District 68." They are collecting school supples for the children of Woodridge School District 68 who are in need. The collection will run through Wednesday, Aug. 15. Collection locations are at the Woodridge Public Library, 3 Plaza Drive; Jewel, 7412 Janes Ave., Woodridge; and Walgreens, 6240 Belmont Road, Downers Grove. Donations may be any school supplies including notebooks, crayons, pencils, and backpacks.

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Woodridge Donates 5,000 Pounds of Food to Pantry

The food was collected during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on May 12.

The community donated 5,000 pounds of food to the West Suburban Community Pantry during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on May 12.  Letter carriers and volunteers delivered the almost 2.5 tons of food to the pantry.  During the drive, residents can place food donations for pick-up from their mail carrier.  In FY11, which ended June 30, 2011, the West Suburban Community Pantry distributed 1.5 million pounds of food to neighbors in need. The pantry currently serves about 1,000 households per month and more than 3,500 individuals. This is made possible largely due to the support of the community.

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See What the Woodridge Rotary Club Has Been Up To

Rotary grants awarded this year to Woodridge and international organizations.

The Woodridge Rotary Club has awarded thousands of dollars to local and international organizations in the past year, according to a Club press release.  The Bit 'O Blarney Irish Night held at Seven Bridges Golf Club in March raised $4,500 to be divided between three local groups: Sharing Connections Furniture Bank, Walk-in Ministry of Hope and the West Suburban Community Pantry. These organizations were selected for their ongoing dedicated service to the community, the release said.  Last fall, Rotary members set up drop-off locations when the Pantry and its main food depository in northern Illinois faced shortages of such staples as peanut butter and jelly, canned meats and snack items for children. More than 600 pounds of food were …

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Small Miracles Preschool Collecting TP

The preschool will be collecting toilet paper for the West Suburban Community Pantry through March 6.

Small Miracles Preschool, part of the Woodridge United Methodist Church, is collecting toilet paper, and they need your help!  The preschool will be collecting toilet paper through Thursday, March 6. Their goal is 75 packages of toilet paper.  All TP will be donated to the West Suburban Community Pantry.  It's the third year for the toilet paper collection. 

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Donate to West Suburban Community Pantry's Souper Bowl

The West Suburban Community Pantry is welcoming soup donations throughout the month of February.

The Super Bowl may be over, but the West Suburban Community Pantry's Souper Bowl continues throughout February.  The pantry is accepting donations of hearty soups through the end of the month in honor of Super Bowl XLVI.  Donations can be dropped off at the West Suburban Community Pantry, located at 6809 Hobson Valley Drive Unit 118, Woodridge. A pick-up can be arranged for larger donations by contacting the pantry at 630-512-9921 x200.

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Help Woodridge Pantry Receive $10,000 Grant

The West Suburban Community Pantry is nominated for a $10,000 grant from Ikea.

Help Woodridge Pantry Receive $10,000

The West Suburban Community Pantry is nominated for a $10,000 grant from Ikea.

The West Suburban Community Pantry could receive $10,000 from Ikea in Bolingbrook.  The pantry is one of three finalists for the grant.  The money would be used to establish the pantry's "Eat Healthy, Grow Strong" program, which will make nutritious food available to children on weekends.  You can help West Suburban Community Pantry win the grant by texting LIFE71 to 62345.  You can vote once a day through Jan. 20. 

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Melissa Sersland

5:46 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

You can find that information here: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/bolingbrook/activities   more ›

Party for Hunger at Cabana Charley's Thursday

Cabana Charley's will host a celebration benefiting the West Suburban Community Pantry Thursday.

Whether you're looking to escape the winter blues or want to spread holiday cheer to the less fortunate, stop by Cabana Charley's this Thursday, Dec. 22, starting at 6 p.m. for the 4th Annual Beach Party for Hunger. All proceeds benefit the West Suburban Community Pantry, which feed 4,000 people each month. Despite DuPage County being the richest in Illinois, there are currently 145,000 people living in poverty. "The need is far greater than most people think," said Barbara Schmith, executive director of the West Suburban Community Pantry. Diann Denault, manager of Cabana Charley's, expects 200 people to come to the event this year and hopes to raise $2,000.  The $10 donation at the door entitles you to the free buffet filled with Cabana …

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Local Families Struggle to Put Food on the Table

Food pantries feel the pinch as more people need their help.

Families’ economic struggles continue, and nowhere are their woes more evident than at local food pantries. More and more families are relying on food pantries to stretch their budgets because there is little left for food after paying housing and utility bills. And, as Thanksgiving nears, families’ needs and pantries’ attempts to help are more poignant. “Last Thanksgiving, we thought that the economy was starting to improve a little bit. We had hit a record number but the rapid growth had slowed,” said Melissa Travis, senior director of programs—basic services for People’s Resource Center (PRC) in Wheaton. “Unfortunately, this year we are seeing another uptick in growth. There are a lot of people who are really struggling right now.” The …

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Volunteers Priceless at West Suburban Community Pantry

West Suburban Community Pantry relies on volunteers to keep the Pantry shelves stocked, organized and clients happy.

The 150 volunteers at the West Suburban Community Pantry donate close to 20,000 hours each year. “This place simply wouldn’t run without them,” said Roger Schmith, founder and Director of Operations at West Suburban Community Pantry (WSCP). “They run this place and keep it running.” The volunteers pick up donations, sort and shelve food, fill orders and assist clients. Some are even behind the scenes writing grant applications, press releases and doing clerical work. The WSCP, located at 6809 Hobson Valley Drive in Woodridge, currently serves 4,000 people per month. “We have been super busy over the past two years due to the economy,” Schmith said. He doesn’t see it slowing down at all. “We are still getting 125 new clients each and every …

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