District 308 To Provide Food For Community Members In Need

OSWEGO, IL — As a way to help locals in need, the Oswego Community Unit School District 308 is offering a satellite food pantry through a partnership with the Kendall County Community Food Pantry.

The two groups first partnered in 2020 to offer assistance to the many families affected in a multitude of ways during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Known as the Oswego Satellite, the pantry, at 61 Franklin St., operates from 6-7:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month during the school year. The program is open to all area residents.

Those who have visited in the past should bring their IDs issued by the pantry. New visitors should bring a driver's license or other photo ID so they can be registered on-site.

Here's a look at the schedule for upcoming Oswego Satellite dates:

• Oct. 6, 2023
• Nov. 3, 2023
• Dec. 1, 2023
• Jan. 12, 2024
• Feb. 2, 2024
• March 8, 2024
• April 5, 2024
• May, 3, 2024
• June 7, 2024

As part of the agreement, District 308 provides the shelving, freezer, refrigerators and volunteers for perishables, while the Kendall County Community Food Pantry provides the food, food storage equipment, signage and client registration system.

Besides the satellite pantry, the district also offers a mobile pantry distribution at two of its elementary schools in collaboration with the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

RELATED: District 308 Partners With Northern Illinois Food Bank For Food Program

The year-long pilot of the BackPack program began Sept. 8 at Long Beach Elementary School and Boulder Hill Elementary School, which have been identified based on the percentage of families who qualify for free or reduced lunches within their school's population, Patch reported.

On Friday afternoons, ahead of dismissal, students receive a discrete backpack with non-perishable food items to help supplement their families' weekend meals. The next Monday, students will return the backpack to be filled once again.