Archives for January 2020

By Sandy Illian Bosch
Originally Published at https://www.thehinsdalean.com/story/2020/01/09/60-seconds/eagle-project-continues-teens-fight-against-local-hunger/910.html

Becoming an Eagle Scout was never really part of Jack Otten’s plan.

“I never gave it much thought,” Otten said. “I was just enjoying being a Scout.”

But as he approached his final year of high school, the Hinsdale Central High School senior said earning Boy Scouting’s highest rank suddenly seemed like a natural progression to his decade-long scouting career. So he set out in search of a project – a final step in every scout’s journey toward the Eagle rank.

Otten said he knew almost immediately that his project would benefit the HCS Family Services food pantry and the people it serves. A longtime volunteer at the pantry and a member of the HCS Junior Board, Otten wanted his project to help alleviate some of the food insecurity that exists in DuPage County. He also wanted it to draw attention to the fact that food insecurity exists in and around Hinsdale – something he said many people still don’t realize.

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By Ken Knutson
Full article published at: https://www.thehinsdalean.com/story/2020/01/02/news/nonprofits-reach-out-to-close-decade/876.html

Village-based service organizations find new ways to serve the broader community in 2019

Stan Cook, executive director of HCS Family Services, said attendance at the agency’s two food pantries increased 40 percent over the last six months of 2019. Clients represented about 1,000 families from 24 local communities.

“We’re working hard to keep up with the demand,” Cook said. “I’m proud that we were able to distribute 600,000 pounds of food to people in need and thankful that we were able to get 400,000 pounds from local grocery stores.”

That effort to rescue food from supermarkets now includes 12 stores, with Aldi, Brookhaven, Costco and Pete’s Fresh Market added to the network this past year. New refrigerators, freezers and produce shelving were installed at the pantries to boost storage capacity and furnish space for more healthy and nutritious items.

Cook also was pleased that 200 local families received turkey meals for Thanksgiving and that 950 clients received holiday gifts, thanks in large part to partnerships with community churches and schools.

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