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Community Corner

Frankfort Township No Stranger to Helping the Hungry

Food pantry, other agencies ready to help when individuals, families struggle financially.

When you work at a food pantry, you find out that mayonnaise disappears quickly.

"There is never enough mayonnaise," says Marifran Drymiller, director.

Indeed, the sandwich spread stands among the top items on the food pantry's holiday food wish list, along with pumpkin pie filling, cans of corn, green beans and Jell-O and sizable list of other non-perishable food items.

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With an estimated median family income exceeding $90,000 a year, Frankfort Township does not come to mind when one thinks of food pantries.

"People think we don't need one, but residents really should know that many families depend on the township pantry for their food," she said. "They could be your next door neighbors."

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Although the United States appears to be recovering, albeit in shaky steps, from the financial meltdown that began at the end of 2007, pantry client numbers do not reflect any economic upturn.

"There has been a tremendous increase in clients because of the economy," Drymiller said. "At the end of 2008, we had 50 families on the list. By the end of 2009, we had 223 and I added more today."

Open five days a week, the local food depository serves only Frankfort Township residents, but it does so with panache and good will.

"We are set up just like a grocery store though we only have two aisles, and clients shop here on their own," she said.

"It's important for me to get to know the clients. I'm there for them to talk to, and sometimes it's just as important to give five minutes of time as it is to give a can of string beans.

"The people who come here always stop on the way out and say good-bye to me."

 Although the pantry accepts and distributes only non-perishables, and when available, personal items such as soap and shampoo, retailers and other organizations, including Mokena-Marly-Frankfort FISH resale store, donate gift cards and certificates residents can use to purchase their turkeys, hams and other perishables.

Most food pantry and FISH clients have lost jobs or perhaps the family breadwinner has died or is ill.

"They just don't have the funds they need," said Barbara Cottingham, one of the many volunteers for FISH.

FISH is a separate organization and operates in a different manner. The agency can provide food certificates to Berkot's Super Foods and also assists with other expenses, such as one-time emergency payments for rent and utilities.

"Our volunteers accept calls from the volunteers at the Crisis Line of Will County," Cottingham continues.           

"Once a call is received, our operator calls the client to see what we can do to help. Whatever we can provide is delivered to Berkot's or St. John's United Church in Mokena. It's all done anonymously."

Both the pantry and FISH depend on donations.

FISH relies on local civic organizations, area churches and its own Mokena Marley Frankfort FISH Resale Store, for contribution during most of the year. It also accepts any private donations. Berkot's is a major contributor as well, Cottingham says.

"It's different at Christmas as we get the food from Project Share," she said, referring to the holiday food charity sponsored by SouthtownStar newspapers.

In spite of the many generous contributions from so many organizations and individuals, the last two years have been very difficult for the local FISH coffers.

"We have dipped pretty deeply into our reserves, spending considerably more than we take in each month," Cottingham said. "We really hope this does not continue."

Meanwhile, the food pantry receives donations from the township, businesses, individuals, churches and other non-profit organizations

Drymiller counts on those donors and on her many volunteers.

"I would not survive and the pantry would not operate without the wonderful volunteers," she said.

"This is a wonderful and generous community.

 "No one has to go hungry in Frankfort Township."

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