Local Food Pantry Ready to Help This Holiday Season

There are 600 bags holding the makings of a traditional Christmas dinner for those in need at the Maple/Morgan Park Community Food Pantry.

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The pantry is hosting its Christmas distribution, which will take place Friday, Dec. 21, from 9:15 a.m. to noon at the pantry site, 11030 S. Longwood Dr. Doors will close as soon as the food pantry runs out of food, which is a real possibility, according Matt Taylor, president of the Maple/Morgan Park Community Food Pantry.

“We’ve run out of food in the past, especially on these days,” Taylor said. “There is an increase in people seeking assistance.”

Taylor said he noticed the number of individuals seeking food from the pantry began increasing in about 2006. Now he estimates the food pantry serves between 350 and 400 families a month and between 1,150 and 1,250 individuals a month. The food pantry serves the 60643 and 60655 area codes.

The Maple/Morgan Park Community Food Pantry shelves remain full because of the number of food drives being held. Taylor said that food drives and the Greater Chicago Food Depository supplies most of the food on their shelves.

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Food stuffs like cereal, rice, peanut butter and jelly, dry beans, pasta and pasta sauce can be found on the pantry’s shelves.

“There’s a lot of everything on the shelves now because of the food drives. We will have enough on the shelves through February,” said Taylor.

Taylor and others are worried that if federal funds are not approved by Congress by Jan. 1, those helped by food pantries and other human services will suffer.

The Community Food Pantry accepts cash donations any time of year and in fact hosts an annual turkey fund drive. A $15 donation buys a turkey and all the trimmings for a holiday dinner. Turkeys are included in the Thanksgiving and Christmas distributions.

Those wanting to make a cash donation should make a check out to the Community Food Pantry, and send it to the organization at 11030 S. Longwood Drive, Chicago, IL 60643.

Groups who want to hold a food drive for this organization should contact Taylor either at the food pantry at 773-239-3013, or on his cell at 312-446-8765.

The Community Food Pantry is usually open from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. The pantry will be closed after the Christmas distribution on Friday, Dec. 21 and resume normal hours on Friday, Jan. 4.

Founded in 1981, The Maple/Morgan Park Community Food Pantry is the ministry of two religious organizations, the Beverly/Morgan Park Community of Churches and the Maple Park/Morgan Park Ministerial Alliance. Both groups have Protestant and Catholic Churches as members, Taylor said.

See more local ways to give back for the holidays.