HCS Family Services
Empowering Families. Changing Lives.
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
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.
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.
We are very thankful for this wonderful article The Hinsdalean wrote about our Thanksgiving meal distribution at HCS Family Services.
Here is an excerpt from their article
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green been casserole, pumpkin pie. These are the dishes that will grace tables throughout Hinsdale and around the country on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanks to the efforts of HCS Family Services, families who can’t afford a special holiday dinner still will be able to enjoy one.
Are you looking for a way to make a difference during this holiday season? HCS will provide traditional Thanksgiving Meal Boxes (a turkey and all the trimmings) to over 200 pantry guests this month. Every $25 donation will brighten the holiday for a family of eight. Please donate now at https://squareup.com/store/hcs-family-services-2. You may also dedicate your gift to a loved one at checkout.
We are so thankful for all the wonderful articles the Hinsdalean keeps writing about our important work at HCS Family Services.
The latest article spotlights one of our largest fundraising events of the year “Blue, Brews and Barbeque” which happens Sunday, November 3, 2019 from 4-7pm.
Here’s an excerpt from their article:
Blues, Brews & Barbecue will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3, at The Community House in Hinsdale. Thanks to the generosity of 46 community sponsors, all money raised will go directly toward stocking the shelves of the pantries in the busy months to come.