Northfield Township Food Pantry Reaches $1.5M Goal For New Space

GLENVIEW, IL — Calling it a "resounding success," officials at the Northfield Township Food Pantry announced Monday the Glenview-based organization has reached its $1.5 million goal to help fund the building of a new state-of-the-art facility at 2550 Waukegan Road. The larger, more accessible pantry will be located upstairs from the current location.

"This transformative campaign, the first and only capital campaign in the pantry's more than 50-year history, has been a resounding success thanks to the extraordinary support of our community," Roxanne Dunn, community outreach coordinator for the Northfield Township and Food Pantry, tells Patch. "Individuals, families, philanthropic agencies, and local businesses came together to make this vision a reality, and we are deeply grateful for their generosity and belief in our mission."

As part of its community investment fund, Endeavor Health partnered with the pantry by awarding $300,000 to the "Growing for Good" campaign, which concludes on Jan. 31. Officials said that donation got the pantry to the $1.5 million mark.

"Endeavor Health's support is a testament to their dedication to improving the well-being of individuals and families in need," Dunn said. "Their investment in our mission will enable us to enhance our services, improve accessibility, and create a welcoming environment for those we serve."

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The pantry serves residents of Glenview, Northbrook, and Northfield who are experiencing food insecurity. The new, more accessible food pantry space will include wider shopping aisles for clients, significantly increased storage space, more efficient grocery supply delivery, dedicated check in and waiting room spaces, dedicated work areas for volunteers and energy-efficient walk in freezers and refrigerators.

The "Growing for Good" campaign began in December 2023. This past November, the organizers launched the public phase of the campaign, with an original goal to complete funding by this spring or summer. Northfield Township purchased the new space, and construction started last month.

According to Shiva Mohsenzadeh, board president of the Northfield Township Food Pantry, the pantry has been serving an additional 500 families since 2020 as local residents have experienced a steep increase in the price of groceries.

"This new facility will allow us to provide a dignified and welcoming experience for our clients while enabling our volunteers to work more effectively," Mohsenzadeh said. "We are deeply grateful for Endeavor Health's partnership and commitment to addressing food insecurity in our community."

The Northfield Township Food Pantry started over 50 years ago when community members began distributing food from a supply closet. The pantry serves more than 1,100 households annually, while averaging over 850 visits a month.

In addition to distributing food, the pantry coordinates special programs throughout the year to provide additional groceries, store gift cards, and birthday bags for families and children.

For more information about the Northfield Township Food Pantry and its efforts to fight food insecurity in the local community, visit here.