Beyond Hunger Transforms Old Grocery Store into Vital Food Pantry at North and Lombard in Oak Park

A new, expansive food pantry is set to open its doors in the western suburbs, bringing much-needed support to the community.

According to Beyond Hunger, the organization operating the pantry, there has been a significant increase in the number of families seeking assistance.

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This growth in demand has prompted the pantry to relocate to a larger facility in Oak Park.

The new location was formerly a grocery store, offering ample space for operations.

For the past 20 years, the pantry has been running out of a church basement, but it will soon transition to a 6,000-square-foot venue situated at the intersection of North and Lombard avenues in Oak Park.

“We are building a space where hope is stocked on every shelf and is a part of every interaction and where neighbors can find not only food but a path forward,” Beyond Hunger CEO Jennie Hull said.

Beyond Hunger reports their demand for food assistance has grown 600% since 2005, serving 69,000 people each year.

Requests for food in the area have increased 39% in the last year, compared to the same time the year before, 211 Metro Chicago said.

“Changes to benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, rising costs and economic pressure means more people will be turning to places like Beyond Hunger,” Hull said.

Stacey Mitchell has been a volunteer.

“It makes it hard for people to meet their basic needs. And so, to have a place where people can come and get their needs met is really outstanding,” Mitchell said.

Currently the pantry is out of First United Church of Oak Park’s basement, where Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings volunteers move the food from the basement to clients.

But the origin of the pantry goes back decades: to the 70s, when it was called the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.

“We used to rent a truck, and go over to the food depository, and load up the truck and bring it back. And the two of us would unload it and have the food available for the families,” said Pat Koko, former director of Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.

Koko is among those they call a “mother” of the pantry.

“I can’t believe how exciting it is to see what they’ve developed into this organization that serves so many people,” Koko said. “I wish we didn’t need it, but we do because we are needed.”

The new space will require some rebuild.

They expect to open in 2027.