Interfaith Food Pantry, located in Outreach Community Center, 345 S. President St., Carol Stream, was founded over 20 years ago, and one of the original founders was our own First Pres member, Dorothy Jensen. The pantry outgrew it original home at St. Mark's Church, moved to Praise Fellowship Church on St. Charles Rd. and gained a much broader church support. It finally ended up at its current location at Outreach Center, where many of its clients can go upstairs to get help in other facets of their life beyond food. The pantry is open two mornings and two afternoons each week.

Acting as an emergency food source, the pantry serves residents of Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Carol Stream, Winfield and Warrenville. They may receive enough food and personal care products to last a few days, and are allowed to use the pantry once a month. Typical clients are working poor, including recent refugees or immigrants (currently these are mainly eastern European), single mothers. and low income people with chronic health problems which drain their monthly budget. In just one month - August 2002 - the pantry served 243 families for a total of 813 persons, including 372 children.

The pantry is 100% volunteer operated, and volunteers are always needed. The food which First Pres donates on the second Sunday of each month is also greatly needed. The board of deacons delivers this food to the pantry. When food pantry Sunday is highlighted from the pulpit, donations are much greater than when it is not mentioned. It is an important mission to the life of this community.