Food Outreach Ministry

HCS Family Services has been a longstanding establishment in the Hinsdale community, helping those in need for nearly 90 years. The HCS food pantry is located in the very heart of St. Isaac Jogues’s neighborhood! More than likely you’ve passed by the pantry many times or seen the HCS trucks driving around town. Their committed staff and volunteers have been serving our neighbors in need since 1937, by providing groceries to over 500 food insecure families each week at their pantries in Hinsdale and Willowbrook. HCS recognizes that despite being one of the wealthiest counties in Illinois, DuPage County is also the second largest food insecure population in the state. They understand that families struggle at times and they invite any person in need of food support to visit their pantry. HCS provides food assistance with dignity to create an improved quality of life to the people they serve. Their pantries obtain and distribute nearly 600,000 pounds of food each year! With only a handful of employees, HCS relies on the help of over 400 volunteers to operate and distribute food to the community. ​

The Notre Dame Food Pantry in Clarendon Hills works to offer support and care to local families in their times of greatest need. They understand that many of the people they serve are in crisis and have a need for ongoing help. These families are our neighbors: the elderly and working poor as well as those who experience long term illness or unexpected injuries who reside in Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Oak Brook, Hinsdale and Willowbrook. Volunteers help to sort, inspect, shelve, and deliver food. Boxes of food filled with everything from non-perishable items to fresh produce and milk are hand delivered to families twice a month. Through the hard work and generosity of their volunteer network, the pantry assists approximately 50 local families each month. SIJ aims to help our friends at Notre Dame Parish through food and financial donations as well as food delivery. 

Since 1975, People's Resource Center has established itself as a dynamic community organization that provides help to people in all areas and stages of life. From job assistance and social services to their food pantry and clothes closet, PRC supports the whole person. They strive to serve the DuPage community with dignity, respect, and compassion. Nearly 26,000 DuPage County residents rely on PRC for help each year through financial assistance, food, and clothing donations. They also connect those in need with educational and professional resources to create a future of hope and opportunity. Volunteers play a key role in the success of PRC. The generosity and support of community volunteers enables PRC to provide those in need with the ongoing support they deserve. Together, St. Isaac Jogues and People’s Resource Center will work to continue the vital mission of serving our DuPage County neighbors. 
 
The below listed not-for-profits play a key role in providing additional help to qualified clients of People's Resource Center.  We can be of service to these entities through our donations of the requested items specified on each website.  There is great value in the ability of SIJ parishioners helping provide inventory for the constant demand these not-for-profits are working to meet.  Please consider any of these organizations as you clear out items that you or your family no longer need but are in good working condition. 

Sharing Connections
Sharing Connections takes furniture and household items as listed on their well organized and easy to navigate website. 

Repeat Boutique Center
A Christian, non-denominational center, Repeat Boutique's mission is to demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by providing material goods free of charge to people in need.  All clients are qualified through their relationships with various referring agencies.  The website documents all the goods they will take as well as hours of operation.
 
Purple Manatee Resale
The Purple Manatee Resale takes a variety of items with a focus on food and household belongings but not furniture.  While they are a resale shop, in times of emergency, they are set up to provide for those in need.  

Westmont Common Closet
Westmont Common Closet at Renew Church is a free clothes closet for gently used children and teens clothing and shoes only.  Donations are accepted on Wednesdays only, from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., in the donation box located near the rear parking lot entrance.  It is open for 'shopping' the first Saturday of every month.  The Common Closet is actively used by SIJ families in their role as hosts homes with the organization Safe Families.  

Mary’s Closet
Mary's Closet, based at St. Petronille's Catholic Church in Glen Ellyn, is their response to the USCCB initiative for Catholic churches to "walk with mothers in need.” They help by providing clothing and various items that support newborns, infants, young children and young families in need.  
 
Poised for Success
Poised for Success provides women beautiful interview and business appropriate attire for free, their clients coming via an agency referral program.  Their website is focused and direct, giving one great confidence their business clothes and accessories will help secure the new job.
 
Cara Collective
The Cara Collective in Chicago does an amazing job working with clients to provide training, job placement and personal and professional coaching.  As such, business attire for men and women are really important to support their efforts.  Their website is quite definitive on what they will and will not take.