Politics & Government
New Food Pantry Slated to Open Next Month
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Interfaith Food Pantry will move from its current location at 600 E. Oak St. to its new facility in a refurbished pole born at 1111 Pyott Road.
The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Food Pantry will soon be moving its facility to a pole barn on Pyott Road — much earlier than originally expected.
Sal Maggio, the facility manager for the food pantry’s Board of Directors, said the new location, located at 1111 Pyott Road, would open to the public in mid- to late-March. The food pantry is currently located at 600 E. Oak St. in a metal building .
“My vision personally was that I thought that we could raise $30,000 per year through fund-raising and maybe and think about opening," Maggio said.
That timeline all changed 10 months ago, when contractors and builders with the McHenry County Building & Construction Trades Council stepped in to volunteer their time and talent to refurbish the new facility.
“A lot of those trades people work off and on throughout the year. They didn’t have a steady job,” Maggio said. “But there they are out there putting their skills and time to help us out.”
In addition, almost all of the building materials were donated or sold at-cost, Maggios said. The donated labor and material totaled $300,000, Maggio said.
"Here we are, a month from opening. It’s a miracle in itself," he said.
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The Cost, New Facility
When all is said and done, the new location will cost around $400,000 and double the space for the pantry.
A more efficient layout, waiting area and larger storage space would allow the patnry's ever-growing customer base to better navigate the pantry, which is set up like a mini-supermarket. The food pantry serves 300 familes in Algonquin and Lake in the Hills per month.
The new pantry will nclude a new computer database for its volunteers to access information needed about the customers when they come in, such as, how much food the customer can receive.
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Depending on family size, each customer receives a certain amount of food. Currently, customer information is stored as paperwork in a file system
The new location provides additional perks. Lying on 13 acres of land, the new location will have access to a park area for children, apple trees and a vegetable and herb garden.
A master arborist and gardeners will be on hand at the garden to help educate any food pantry clients interested in assisting with the garden. The garden will allow clients to donate their time to give back to the pantry.
“Nobody wants to be a recipient (at the food pantry). When they come in, it’s a very hard thing for anyone and on any given day, anyone could be on the receiving line of this,” Maggio said. “One thing I’ve noticed is that when these people have gotten new employment, they come back and volunteer … now they will be able to go and give back by working in the garden.”
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