HCS Family Services

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HCS Family Services

Food Distribution to Resume Friday, March 28, 2020

bag of groceries

At HCS Family Services, our top priority is feeding hungry people. Unfortunately, this week, we were unable to distribute groceries to our neighbors in need after two of our staff members reported not feeling well late last week. Out of an abundance of caution, we canceled our Monday, March 23 and our Wednesday, March 25 distributions, so we could confirm there was no risk to our clients and volunteers.

While we thought the food pantry would need to be closed until April 1, with the assistance of our board of directors and volunteers, we’ve developed a pantry operation plan that will allow the food pantry to resume its curbside, drive-through distributions this Friday, March 28 at our Hinsdale location from 3:30 – 6 p.m.

This plan limits staff and volunteer interaction to safeguard the health and safety of all our community, while still serving our neighbors in need.

Food distributions will take place:

In Hinsdale (19 E Chicago Ave.):
Mondays from Noon – 2 p.m.
Fridays from 3:30 – 6 p.m.

In Willowbrook (Anne M. Jeans Elementary School):
Wednesdays from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

We express our sincere appreciation to all who have donated in the last few weeks to help us feed families, seniors and other individuals at risk of hunger. We have requested additional food deliveries from Northern Illinois Food Bank and are diligently working with our entire food supply chain to secure food during this difficult time.

Our commitment to provide nutritious food to all who need it in our community is as strong as ever. Thank you for your support.

Eagle Project Continues Teen’s Fight Against Local Hunger

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

Jack Otten
Jack Otten Lifelong resident of Hinsdale

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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Read the Full Article at TheHinsdalean.com

Nonprofits Reach Out to Close Decade

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

Non-Profits Reach Out

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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Read Full Article at TheHinsdalean.com

Local Boy Scout Builds New Food Donation Bins for HCS Family Services

Thanks to the Chicago Tribune for spotlighting the good work of Jack Otten’s Eagle Scout Project.  Jack has supported the work of HCS Family Services in many ways – as a Boy Scout, a food pantry volunteer and a member of our Junior Board.  

Here is a link to the full story:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/hinsdale/ct-dhd-eagle-scout-food-pantry-tl-1219-20191216-hfffv3cgqnhhfjnjax2mbvn5ye-story.html

Food Pantry Provides Nutrition, Hope for Local Family

Diana and her children

Nearly three years ago, Diana and Israel’s son Andrew, now 9, came home excited about a new development at school.  HCS Family Services had opened a food pantry in his elementary school. The food pantry was open to families who could use some extra help – something he thought his mom and dad might be in need of.

Although the couple works, Diana and Israel find it difficult to make ends meet.

“We struggle paycheck to paycheck,” Diana said.

They are not alone. Various recent studies have concluded that more than 50 percent of American adults are facing similar situations.

Like many families, the rent and the utilities came first. Diana and Israel had to be strategic with how the remainder was spent on food for their family, which, in addition to Andrew, includes an older daughter, and an infant son.

“I’d have to alternate on the necessities. One week, I would buy milk but not eggs or cereal. The next week, I’d buy eggs and cereal but not milk,” Diana said.

It was Andrew, just in first grade at the time, who recognized an opportunity when he learned about the food pantry at school. “When Andrew told me a food pantry had opened at school, he said, ‘maybe we can get milk there, since we can’t buy it this week,’” Diana said.

While it was emotionally difficult for Diana, who was raised to be self-reliant, to seek help, she immediately felt welcomed by the cheerfulness of the staff and volunteers.

“The volunteers care about you, ask you how you are doing, and are genuinely concerned,” she said.

Diana was surprised at the variety of the food pantry’s offerings.

“We can get all the essentials – milk, eggs, bread, fruit and vegetables – and things that are healthy, nutritious foods,” she said.

Having the food pantry in the community “is such a blessing. I am so grateful for all who donate and want to help others in need.” To help families like Diana’s, please consider making a donation today.

Help Us Put Food on the Table of a Hungry Neighbor

HCS Family Services provides a turkey to a guest

In this season of giving, HCS Family Services invites you to help us put food on the table of a hungry neighbor.

You can make a difference for those who struggle with hunger in our community. With your support, a parent can put a healthy meal on their family’s table. A student can focus on learning rather than their hunger at school. A senior citizen won’t have to choose between eating and paying medical bills. 

To the surprise of many, hunger is an acute issue in our own backyard. Our county has the 2nd largest hungry population in Illinois. One in six northern Illinois children face hunger. Senior hunger is growing quickly.

Do you agree that everyone deserves access to healthy, nutritious foods? Help us get food to those who need it most by making a tax-deductible donation.

Our pantry attendance has grown over 40% in the last six months, so we need your support now more than ever.  Your donation will support the 1,000 families from 24 local communities who use our food pantries in Hinsdale and the Anne M. Jeans Elementary School in Willowbrook.

HCS Family Services was founded in 1937 by community leaders to provide the basic necessities of life to those who needed it most. Today, we ask you to support our founders’ vision with a donation to our local hunger relief work. 

Together, we can do mighty things in our community. With your gift, you’ll join our many community organizations, grocery food rescue partners and 400 volunteers who work so hard to end local hunger and strengthen our community.