As Palatine Township leaders report a marked increase in food pantry demand, they say money U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley has asked Congress for, in an effort to help the township, will go toward expanding the current facility and creating a satellite one.
Quigley, a Chicago Democrat whose 5th Congressional District includes all or part of northwest suburban Palatine Township, chose the township’s Haven Project as one of 15 programs he submitted for funding consideration for fiscal year 2025. The federal government’s fiscal year runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.
Palatine Township Administrator Anna Chychula told Pioneer Press that the Haven Project features two parts: one to upgrade current Palatine Township facilities to accommodate the increased demand at the food pantry and another to establish a satellite facility featuring another food pantry, general assistance and other services.
“There’s always been talk of expanding the food pantry. Our food pantry is very small for the volume of people that we serve so the idea for the project was just a natural outgrowth of always needing to expand our food pantry,” Chychula said.
Palatine Township Assistant Administrator Cathy Veller told Pioneer Press that the total $2.3 million Quigley is looking to get for the Haven Project breaks down to $575,500 that would be used for improvements to the current township center and food pantry, and $1.75 million for acquisition.
In a news release, officials from Quigley’s office explained that he asked for appropriations totaling $31.5 million for specific projects in his district.
“Congressman Quigley’s assistance and strong regional relationships from a cross section of local, municipal, county and state governments will allow Palatine Township to be more effective with services to all residents,” Palatine Township Supervisor Andy-John Kalkounos stated in that release.
Kalkounos explained in the release that the township headquarters – where social service departments are housed – is currently located about six miles away from residents who likely need the services the most.
Chychula explained that the Haven Project features two parts: one to upgrade current Palatine Township facilities to accommodate the increased demand at the food pantry and another to establish a satellite facility featuring another food pantry, general assistance and other services.
“The most important thing is for us to be able to meet the needs of our residents and this [federal funding] will help us do that because the need is continuing to grow and expand exponentially larger,” said Chychula.
Palatine Township has about 115,000 residents spread across part or all of the towns of Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Inverness, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Barrington, South Barrington and Schaumburg
Leaders say the township served more than 18,000 individuals in 2023 at the food pantry.
“We’re there to provide a respite and to provide assistance to them. It’s a great service. We do get a lot of donations. The community has been incredibly kind, generous and thoughtful – from churches to businesses to individuals to Scouts to just kindhearted folks really stepping up,” Chychula said.
According to the release from Quigley’s office, the food pantry requires expansion, modernization and improvements to continue to meet the growing demand for service. The Haven Project will help bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as state and federal safety guidelines.
“No one knows their community’s needs better than the member who represents it. Those needs are constantly evolving and often need extra help to successfully cross the finish line,” Quigley stated in the release.
Chychula noted that the $2.3 million requested by Quigley – a member of the House Committee on Appropriations and ranking member of the subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development – should cover the entire cost of the township project.
She said that work in July could include converting closets from food storage spaces into walk-in coolers to help prolong produce at the food pantry.
Chychula said the township previously received grant assistance for refrigeration and other improvements from Northrop Grumman, a global aerospace and defense technology company with a Rolling Meadows location, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository in Chicago.
The township food pantry is available by appointment for residents every 30 days. They are able to shop from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursdays, officials noted.
“If we got the grant, we would be able to expand maybe to five days. Right now we don’t have the capacity,” Chychula said.
According to Palatine Township website, the food pantry accepts monetary and food donations, as well as and personal items including shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, body wash and deodorant, and liquid laundry detergent and dish soap.
Quigley stated in the release that the 15 projects he has identified for funding consideration are ones that “will have a practical and positive impact on communities in Illinois’ 5th.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
