More Than 210K Pounds Of Produce Repurposed By West Suburban Pantry

WOODRIDGE, IL — In the past year, West Suburban Community Pantry (WSCP) has repurposed more than 210,000 pounds of "misfit" produce to benefit residents in need in and around DuPage County.

The pantry has partnered with the following companies since March 2023 to help give clients access to a greater amount of fresh produce:

• Atom Banana
• Misfits Market
• Sunterra Chicago
• The Farm

The partners either donate the produce or sell it to the pantry at a reduced price. WSCP then makes the produce available to their clients via their onsite and online markets. Additionally, the pantry has donated items to Loaves and Fishes, Beyond Hunger and other food pantries in the greater Chicago area.

According to Paul Kolkau, who runs Sunterra Chcicago, the produce is often passed along because it does not always meet "retail standards."

Kolkau said in a statement, "We don’t want to pay to throw away edible food. If I can help change a few lives and save money and the environment, why would we not donate perfectly good food to people who need it?"

West Suburban Community Pantry is open for client visits during the following hours:

• Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (by appointment only) and from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Those who would like to donate food items to WSCP can do so Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.