Kendall County Food Pantry Inc

I have been volunteering at the KCFP for 2 years. I am constantly amazed at what this organization has been able to accomplish. Every person there is volunteering their time and often resources to make everything work. The volunteers work many hours - and don't leave until every client that shows up has been served. The KCFP helps the community in numerous ways. First, and foremost, we give food to needy families and individuals. Then we start to weave into the community. We help the local schools with snacks for hungry children - and run a brown bag summer lunch program for these same kids, we help the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts (and to be honest - they help us quite a bit as well -- it's a WIN:WIN), we work with the Senior Services in Yorkville, we reach out and help pet owners keep and maintain their four legged family members, we help with the PADS program that reaches out to help the homeless in our area during the colder months, and we help a variety of other groups to help others. I don't even know ALL the ways we help - nor ALL the people we help. I only know that I feel blessed and honored to be part of the KCFP family.

I have a very personal tie to the Kendall COunty Food Pantry- My neighbor and Dear Friend became the Director of the organization so many of us in our neighborhood became directly connected. I started out volunteering once a week and sometimes twice a week doing whatever I was asked to to. Each time it would be different. A lot of organizing donations and food. I have seen this organization grow from a tiny room in the basement of a local busniess into an enourmous building in town and it is continuing to grow. It is lead by an amazing director who has great vision and a great team of volunteers behind her and an amazing community that has taken this organization under its wing. All year round there is continual fundraising going on for this organization from children in school, clubs, athletics, local businesses, local churches. It has been amazing to watch it grow and to see our neighbor achieve the goals she has set. It is continually expanding- it is not just food anymore. It is house hold items, children lunches in the summertime, clothing, holiday gifts and gift baskets, school supplies. THere are still plans for growth. Our county has been hit very hard with the economy. The number of families in the last 2 years as been growing at alaming rates. Several neighbors, and friends have now had to utilize the services due to job losses. Those that were once volunteers have now become clients. My husband and I also became a receiver of these services due to job loss and loss of income. We never saw this day coming and we are grateful and blessed for the existance of the Kendall County Food Pantry. To lessen the burden of financial stress through this organization, is a gift. Maria Spaeth, the director of the Organization, has great goals and an amazing gift to run the Food Pantry. SHe and her team have done amazing things and touch so many lives. I highly recommend finding some time to devote to the Kendall COunty Food Pantry. There are endless possibilities to serve the Food Pantry.

The Kendall County Food Pantry is a family, a group of people helping other people. We are taught to care for one another as God cares for us. Each week I look forward to working at the pantry. There is a bond with the clients, sharing thier highs and lows of the week. I work in the clothing area helping Moms find a warm pair of pjs for their kids, a nice outfit for a job interview, or warm coat to survive the cold winters. We all appreciate Maria's leadership and dedication

I moved to the Yorkville area seven years ago. I had previously volunteered at a food pantry and wanted to continue volunteering in my new community. I have been volunteering at the Kendall County Food Pantry for about three years. I am awed by the amount of food, clothing and miscellaneous items that are distributed to individuals and families that are struggling to make ends meet.

Wonderful organization that meets and recognizes the growing needs in the community - very well managed and growing to keep up with increasing demands.

I have been a volunteer at the Kendall County Food Pantry for nearly three years. I started by handing food bags to the clients, but then moved into the office when I mentioned my office skills. By working in both of these areas I have come to realize how wonderful the clients are and how much "behind the scenes work" is done in order to serve our clients. I have also seen the need for the the work of the food pantry grow tremendously over the last three years. It never ceases to amaze me that not one person working at the food pantry is a paid employee. My eyes have truly been opened to the needs of my community by donating my time to the food pantry.

I'll just tell you the facts. I have never been involved in a place that feels so much like home. I have Fathers, Mothers and siblings: I am also a big brother to some of the younger volunteers. The clients sometimes seem "down" and depressed and it's good to see them get a little relief from their problems by receiving food. We even have household items, games, vhs tapes and toys that really put a smile on the kid's faces. I'm a 39 year old male that never really knew what my purpose was, but I believe I have found in in volunteering.

The Kendall County Food Pantry is special to me. My name is Maxine. When I came to the pantry in February 2010, I did not know what to expect. I only knew that I wanted and needed something to do and volunteering was a great idea. I liked it from the very 1st day. The people are a nice group to be around with the same interest. The pantry receives deliveries of food from the Illinois Food bank on Mondays; and donations of food and clothing from the community, grocery stores, deli's and other organiizations including pet food and supplies. As a volunteer I sort and organize clothes, prepare bags of food, take in donations and assist clients on Thursdays with their choice of breads, desserts and food. This is an opportunity to serve many people. They also can choose some household items and sometimes electronics when available. This is very rewarding and is my pleasure to help, seeing the smiles and listen to the expression of gratitude. The pantry is a well ran and organized non-profit organization. Maria Spaeth is a smart young lady spirited and dedicated to insure the pantry is the best with the help of dependable and supportive volunteers.

My name is Dick Schlosser and I became a volunteer at the Kendall County Food Pantry upon my retirement more than 9 years ago. I still recall my first day of volunteering when I took my morning newspaper with me so I would have something to do to pass the time while I was there. What a surprise when I found myself so busy that my daily news was left unread. Unfortunately, because of our county's economic conditions, we are busier. My service as a KCFP volunteer is most fulfilling--it was 9 years ago and is even more so today in these difficult times as we serve our community.

I moved to this area 3 years ago. I came from a very materialistic invironment having always owned my own business. My husband and I lost everything we owned through a few bad decisions and were thrown into bankrputcy overnight. We had nothing but his Social Security to live on. Welived in public housing for the next five years. We moved to Yorkville because I needed help with my husbands healthcare, and my daughter was willing to help. We became acquainted with a neighbor who led me to the food pantry as there were a total of nine people in our family. I was a client before I was a volunteer. I have been a volunteer for three years, and I have never seen the level of caring, compassion, loyalty that is handed not only to the clients that come through, but to fellow volunteers. We are in every sense a family. A family that serves each other with blessings every day. I have turned down a job in order to stay at the pantry and do Gods work. The riches of a job could never replace the riches the Kendall County Food Pantry has put in my heart.

MY NAME IS RON DU BROCK AND HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER AT THE KENDALL COUNTY FOOD PANTRY FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. IN THE TIME WHEN THE PANTRY WAS GETTING STARTED TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY THROUGH BAD TIMES IN THEIR LIVES DUE TO SICKNESS AND DISTRESS, LAID OFF FROM EMPLOYMENT, AND OTHER UNFORTUNATE TIMES. WE HAVE HELPED THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. AND PEOPLE WHO WERE SO GRATEFUL HAVE COME BACK TO HELP VOLUNTEER OR THROUGH DONATIONS. THE KCFP HAS GROWN FROM 40 FAMILIES A WEEK TO OVER 200 FAMILIES PER WEEK WITH AN AVERAGE OF BETWEEN 800 TO A THOUSAND PEOPLE PER WEEK. THE SYSTEM THAT IS PUT TOGETHER BY MARIA SPAITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS HELPED KENDALL COUNTY OF ILLINOIS TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK FOR. THE PANTRY OPERATES AT 99% EFFICIENTLY AND SO THANKFUL FOR THAT. THE VOLUNTEERS ARE LIKE A FAMILY ALL WHO PUT THEIR EFFORT INTO IT TO MAKE IT WORK. THE KCFP HAS GROWN FROM A BASEMENT WITH NO HEAT IN THE WINTER AND NO AIR CONDITION IN THE SUMMER TO A WARE HOUSE LARGE ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE SO MANY PEOPLE. I THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR PROVIDING THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE.

I started working at the food pantry about 1990 in a very small pantry in the basement of a Farm Bureau building. We had no heat or air and the patrons had to stand outside in all sorts of weather. We than got a new director and a go getter she was. We moved into a new building (to us) and we had heat in the cold winter days and a place for the clients to wait their turn. We had a warehouse that could hold more food. We had a clothing dept. in our old building but we had very limited space. In our new building we got a much larger area to give out clothing to the clients who need clothing, blankets, sheets, towels and misc. items. Everyone was so happy with our new building and we were able to give out more food and clothing for everyone.

I work at the Pantry on Mondays and Thursdays. On Mondays I go in and bag up the bread and baggles we receive from different stors and resteraunts. then when the truck comes from the Illinois Food Pantry we unload it and put the food away either on the shelves or in the freezers or the walk in cooler. On Thursday I help get the food on tables and the bread in bags that we have received either on other days or we got in that morning. Then I help load the clients bags of food into their cars or trucks. It is very humbling working at the food pantry. I am retired after 40 years at Caterpillar. I enjoy working at the food pantry. I am glad I can help other people in need. In this time of high unemployment I am happy I can help other people.

Having volunteered at the KCFP for almost two years, both in direct service to the clients, and behind the scenes in the office, I can honestly say that I feel the KCFP is the most efficient, and helpful organization of its kind in the area. Volunteers are acutely aware of the feelings of the clients and are most helpful and courteous. Smiles are abundant at the KCFP! While the office help is comprised of part time volunteers, Maria, the director, makes sure that every T is crossed and every I dotted. The KCFP is ever evolving to make the process the best it can be.

I am truly amazed at all the areas the food pantry touches. Before volunteering there, I imagined the pantry just gave out food. It does so much more. By providing clothing, toiletries, pet food and special occasion items like school materials, Easter baskets, family photographs, etc. it reaches out to the community and those in need. I have seen the community, young and old, come together to help those in need by organizing food drives and sponsoring fund raisers. In this era of me first, it is a blessing to see young people reaching out to those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Hi, My name is Diane. I started at the Kendall County Food Pantry as a volunteer in the clothing department. I was welcomed to the pantry by everyone who works there. It is a great group of people who are there for the right reasons to help the less fortunate through there tough times. Everyone is friendly and very helpful to the clients. It is hard to see people who are so down on there luck. But it makes me feel good that I can maybe be a bright part of their week. We have great people who work at the pantry and great leadership. I feel like I am a part of a family when I volunteer.

My name is Ken Spaeth and I am the Treasurer of the Kendall County Food Pantry ("KCFP"). KCFP has been in existance since 1987 and has had numerous dedicated leaders running it throughout the years. Over the last two and ahalf years or so, my wife, Maria Spaeth, has been running the pantry. Maria is the Executive Director. Since Maria took the reins of the pantry, she has installed a fully functioning board, rellocated to larger and more efficient facilities, serves more than 5 times more clients, and has more than doubled annual giving. The pantry is 100% volunteer operated. That is correct. There is not a single paid employee. All expenses are primarily related to the facility and food provisioning. In fact, the pantry will be receiving it's first Audited Financial Statemetns for 2009. Moving forward, KCFP will issue audited financial statements on an annual basis. We are proud to announce that KCFP spends in excess of 90 cents of every dollar donated on food and program related expenses. This is unpresedented in the industry. Kendall County Illinois is a growing community which has growing needs. There is an ever increasing number of families requiring the services of KCFP. Your donantion dollars will be put to a good and proper use at KCFP. Thank You and God Bless!