Boy Scout Troop 82 Pitches in to Help the Hungry

Elmhurst Boy Scout Troop 82 held its annual spring food drive for the Yorkfield Presbyterian Church Food Pantry last month. Flyers were distributed to neighborhood home on April 12 and food was picked up the following Saturday. 

The Food Pantry at 1099 S. York, in Elmhurst helps over 300 families per month from Addison, Bensenville, Elmhurst, Lombard, Oak Brook, Villa Park, Hillside and Berkeley. 

Much of the food for the pantry is purchased from the Northern Illinois Food Bank but food drives like the one Troop 82 completed is necessary to help fill the shelves. The Food Pantry welcomes any community support by referring a client, volunteering to stock shelves, donate cash, gift cards or food and household supplies. Troop 82 would like to thank those in the community that helped support this worthwhile endeavor.

In addition, the Food Pantry, started 32 years ago in a church closet, is planning an expansion project that will occupy a corner of the church parking lot and greatly increase its current capacity in a modern, welcoming facility for their clients. 

Each family receives a well- balanced amount of groceries such as Peanut butter and jelly, soup, canned meals, pasta, rice,  canned fruits and vegetables, baking items, cookies, crackers, breads and pastries, fresh produce, frozen meats as well as if available, toiletries, cleaning and paper products.  The Pantry then orders basic staple items from the Northern Illinois Food Bank to allow families to take home a good amount of groceries.

Troop 82 has been chartered by Immanuel Lutheran Church, near downtown Elmhurst, since 1945. For more information on the Troop including membership application, please visit the Troop 82’s website.