No-Contact Dropoff Days Set At Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry

CHICAGO — Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry at 11030 S. Longwood Drive in Chicago has remained open but is still in need of donations more than ever. Now in the coming weeks, two no-contact dropoff donation days have set to make it easier for neighborhood residents to donate both money and food to help those in need on the South Side of Chicago.

Karen Overstreet, executive director of the pantry, said two lines will form in the Longwood Drive parking lot from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29 and Wednesday, May 6. One for food donations and another for those who can give monetary donations.

"There will be two components going on at the same time," Overstreet said. "If you are donating food, drive up in one line and just pop your trunk so one of our staff members can get the food."

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The shelves are in need of several items, a flyer promoting the no-contact dropoff days shows. Included in the list are hot and cold cereals, bottle water, canned tuna, canned chicken, canned salmon, condiments, bottle juice, wrapped frozen packaged meats, bar soap, dish detergents, Kleenex tissue, pancake mix, corn muffin mix, spaghetti, pastas, stove top dressing, mac and cheese, disposable face masks, latex gloves (L & M), hand sanitizers, Clorox wipes, diapers and hygiene items.

The other line, Overstreet said, will have an option for supporters to drop off sealed donations in a basket. The monetary donations go a longer way because the pantry uses the money to buy items in bulk and since they are a non-profit it is tax free, Overstreet said.

Checks can be made payable to Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry and can also be mailed or dropped off at 11030 S. Longwood Dr. Chicago, IL 60643-4012.

Walk-up donations of both kinds will also be accepted as long as everyone remains six feet apart on the dropoff days, the executive director added.

19th Ward Ald. Matt O'Shea is among those supporting the donation drive.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a record-number of individuals out of work and in need of help,” O’Shea said. “Now more than ever, it is important that we are ensuring the safety and well-being of those who need it most. The Maple Morgan Park Food Pantry donation drive will allow people to safely help those who are in dire need at this unprecedented time.”

It's those in the 19th Ward, Overstreet said, whose generosity has helped them stay afloat during the pandemic.

"The residents of Beverly, Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park have really stepped up in supporting us," she said. "We are all really truly humbled and overwhelmed with the response we've seen."

The pandemic has forced the pantry to alter their procedure in being of service to those in need from the Beverly, Morgan Park, Washington Heights and West Pullman neighborhoods on the South Side, however.

"We've had to move our operation from inside to outside," Overstreet, whose been executive director at the pantry for the past two years, said.

Before the pandemic, those in need would come inside the building and pick out two weeks worth of food. Now, staff and volunteers at the food pantry put together two weeks worth of food for them in pre-prepared and stapled bags.

While other pantries in the area have been forced to close due to the pandemic, Overstreet said a younger and healthy staff at Maple has allowed them to remain in business for the 37th year.

"Feed the hungry is our motto, and that's what we are going to continue to do," she said.

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