Hinsdale Leader Seeks To Dispel Argument Against Pantry

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale's village president on Tuesday presented information that contradicted an argument against moving the local food pantry.

At the last Village Board meeting, a resident asserted pantries aren't placed in residential neighborhoods. But Village President Tom Cauley said that wasn't the case.

He was speaking during a discussion over approving zoning for moving HCS Family Services from Memorial Hall, which houses the village government, to the old Hinsdale Humane Society building at 22 N. Elm St.

Cauley said the pantry in Memorial Hall is arguably in a residential area, as was the case with the recently closed mobile food pantry at Hinsdale Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Also, the village found 15 examples of food pantries operating in residential areas in DuPage County, Cauley said.

With the new site in Hinsdale, the pantry would be next to the village's public works complex and a park.

"The pantry will not be in an area that is surrounded by homes," Cauley said.

At the last meeting, neighbors expressed concerns about the pantry's effects on traffic and parking in the neighborhood.

Under the plan, the pantry would allow only four cars at a time during the twice-a-week food distribution times. The other drivers, meanwhile, would wait at the nearby Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

At Tuesday's meeting, the Village Board made a concession to neighbors by pushing the collection time later on Mondays. This way, students won't be let out while people are picking up food.

The board unanimously approved the zoning for the pantry.