Vernon Township Food Pantry Needs Donations

Up to 300 local families rely each month on Vernon Township’s food pantry, and the pantry depends upon donations from the community to meet that demand. 

The food pantry is currently in need of boxed soap, cereal, Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper and boxed potatoes, said Kathie Deyerler, general assistance caseworker. The pantry also quickly goes through peanut butter and jelly, she said.

“The food item that we get the most is soup. We have cases of soup. We’re good on soup. We can use everything else,” Deyerler said. 

Also welcome are toiletries of any kind, she said. Toilet paper, tissues, toothpaste, shampoo and other such necessities cannot be purchased with food stamps. When they are available, the food pantry provides such products to its patrons.

Between 250 and 300 people are registered to pick up monthly packages, which include items for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Deyerler said. When they are available, bonus items such as Ramen noodles and snack foods are included, she said.

The pantry is quickly going through the donations it received in late 2012 from Stevenson High School's Give-a-Thon, Deyerler said. Shelves were stocked again this month when a second-grader at Sprague School in Lincolnshire collected more than 500 items, she said.

Still, need remains.

Donations can be dropped off at the food pantry between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those with large donations stemming from food drives are asked to call before delivering. For more information, call the Vernon Township office at (847) 634-4600.