Happy Trails: Frankfort Township Food Pantry Director Retires

FRANKFORT, IL — Long time Frankfort Township Food Pantry Director Jeannine Hetfleisch has retired effective Sept. 30. Hetfleisch announced her retirement in an email to a Frankfort Township Food Pantry group, which was then posted on social media.

"I'm certainly going to miss everybody," Hetfleisch wrote in the email. "Thank you so much for your continued support of this wonderful food pantry. We couldn't do it without you!"

When reached for comment by Patch, Hetfleisch said she wanted the focus not to be on her retirement; rather, she stressed that the Frankfort Township Food Pantry's volunteers are more deserving of recognition for the pantry's success in delivering services to residents in the area.

“It’s a team effort," Hetfleisch told Patch. "If it wasn’t for my wonderful group of volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish the things that we do.”

Frankfort Township Supervisor Jim Moustis said Hetfleisch’s retirement is a “loss” for the food pantry, and credited her for the way in which she treated all of the food pantry’s clients.

“She was always very concerned about people who came to the pantry and people in general,” Moustis said. “She really served folks very well. She showed people their dignity and their worth, and never made people feel like they were there for a handout. She made them feel always very comfortable to come to our pantry.”

Hetfleisch had been with Frankfort Township since around 2005, according to Moustis. Hetfleisch started out as a bus driver for the township and moved over to the food pantry in about 2011, Moustis said.

The Frankfort Township Food Pantry serves approximately 300 families per month, according to Moustis.

Those who wish to donate to the food pantry can do so directly through the Frankfort Township office, located at 11000 W. Lincoln Highway in Frankfort. Donations can also be made to Frankfort Township Charities, the nonprofit 501(c)3 arm of the township that provides assistance to families with food and other essentials, as well as assistance with utility bills and rent, Moustis said.

Another way people can donate is through online shopping on Amazon.com via AmazonSmiles purchases. Amazon will donate 0.5 percent of sales of eligible items to Frankfort Township Charities. To register for this program, Amazon.com shoppers should select Frankfort Township Charities via this link.

People can request assistance by calling Frankfort Township at 815-469-4907. Pickups from the food pantry are by appointment only.

For more information on services provided by Frankfort Township, visit the Frankfort Township website.

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