Hinsdale Pantry Move A 'Win-Win'

HINSDALE, IL – After nearly a century, Hinsdale's pantry is moving away from Memorial Hall, which also houses the library and village government offices.

On Tuesday, the Village Board decided to provide a new village-owned building for the pantry, officially known as Hinsdale Community Services.

The new building is at 22 N. Elm St., where the Hinsdale Humane Society once was. Under the new contract, the pantry will continue to benefit from free space.

A year ago, the board looked at the pantry's plan to move to the Elm Street building. But parking was an issue. Trustees did not want any parking to impinge on the neighboring park to the north.

The village and pantry arrived at a parking plan that did not require any use of existing parkland.

According to village documents, the pantry has outgrown its current space, seeing a steady increase in use over the last decade.

The pantry's departure means more space for the library and the village government, officials said. It is also expected to free up parking.

"It's seldom we get a win-win," Village President Tom Cauley said. "I don't think there's a downside to this."

Pantry volunteer Susan Oakum, who lives a couple of blocks away from the old Humane Society building, said the pantry would enhance the neighborhood.

She also said the new building would be more efficient for the pantry's operation.

Oakum said her biggest surprise as a volunteer was that many Hinsdale residents also use the pantry.