What began as a bag giveaway in the year 2000 to help people seeking food at Salem Lutheran Church in Sycamore is now a robust food pantry ministry supported by 30 volunteers serving 850 family units a year (impacting 16,458 individuals). Coordinator Liz Ezell talked about the ever-increasing demand for food which helps about 5,000 visitors a year through their weekly pantry operation. The pantry offers shelf stable food items, perishable fresh foods, and foods from their commercial-quality refrigerators and freezers. Ezell said they also offer extra items such as paper products, personal care goods, and books. Besides food availability, Ezell said the pantry coordinates Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Ezell went through a long list of resources for food offered by the pantry. Key organizations are the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Jewel Foods of Sycamore, the Rooted for Good non-profit, and the Sweet Life Garden Group non-profit (which grows fresh foods at an on-site garden). Donations help fill in the gaps of food supplies that include support from Meijer, Hy-Vee, and Aldi food stores. Prior to funding being discontinued, Ezell said they also drew on food from the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program (a local farm to shelf operation that had federal subsidy dollars for support). Hours for the food pantry are Tuesdays 9:00 - 11:45 AM and Wednesdays 3:30 – 6:00 PM. More details are available from their church website at www.slcsycamore.org.