'Christmas in July' Attracts Neighborhood Attention

The need for food donations is greater than ever―a fact that no one would ever want to admit.

On average during the year, the Cary Grove Food Pantry has 200 families a month come to receive food and supplies for their homes, but it’s even more during the winter months.

“This is just a very slow time of the year,” commented Melody Stanko, president of the Cary Grove Food Pantry. “The Post Office Food Drive, our biggest food drive of the year during the second Saturday in May, obtained the lowest amount of food I’ve seen in 10 years.”

During July, however, food pantries around the area begin “Christmas in July,” a program that attempts to rejuvenate the spirit of the Holidays by encouraging people to donate various items to pantries for those in need.

Stanko remarked, “Food pantries around the area start to run low between July and September because the programs that primarily hold food drives for us, such as the Boy Scouts, are only very active during the school year.” Since the drive is still going on, Stanko also commented that they have not received any donated items yet. “We take whatever we can get, especially if it comes in the form of money. 95 percent of the food purchased for our pantry comes from donated funds.”

Twice a month, a representative from Cary’s food pantry purchases milk, cheese, eggs, and margarine for every family that comes.

Dominick’s in Fox River Grove also donates certain items, such as bread and pastries.

Anyone, at any time, is welcome to come and drop off items in boxes outside of the pantry.

The Cary-Grove food pantry pantry is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and the first, second and third Saturdays of the month from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. 

The pantry is located in the parking lot of the St. Barnabas Church off of Cary-Algonquin Road.