(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A northwest suburban family has helped some members of their community have less to worry about when it comes to putting food on the table.
Former Crystal Lake School District 47 parent Shannon Trocki has been behind an effort to place food pantry sheds at four schools.
She reportedly noticed food disappearing quickly from the Canterbury Elementary School’s pantry. So, she and her family bought and installed a second, larger shed to hold donated items.
Then, the nurse practitioner came up with an idea to set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for five more sheds for three other schools in the district. The goal was $2,500, and $3,000 was raised.
"Food insecurity is such an important issue that all communities face, and COVID has ony made this issue worse,” Trocki said.
The school district said two sheds will be installed at Lundahl and Bernotas Middle Schools, and an additional shed will be set up for the largest middle school, Hannah Beardsley.
More than half of Canterbury School's students and nearly 30% of Hannah Beardsley's students are considered low-income and qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches.
About 51.4% of Canterbury students and 29.8% of Hannah Beardsley students are considered low-income and qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Canterbury Assistant Principal Amy Lilly said the school's pantries are used mostly by families in the area that "don't have the proper identification or transportation to be able to utilize the Crystal Lake Food Pantry."
The Bernotas and Lundahl sheds will be shared with two neighboring elementary schools.
Donations are welcome. Non-perishable food items placed in the pantries include canned goods, boxed cereal, boxed meals, boxed side dishes, pasta, pasta sauce, baby food, bottled drinks, chips, snacks and baking ingredients.
Non-food items include diapers, laundry soap, shampoo, conditioner, paper towels, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste and face masks.
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