Brookfield’s Share Food Share Love is hoping to destigmatize food pantries by getting creative with how it distributes food to its visitors.
The nonprofit pantry, located at 9030 Brookfield Ave., announced yesterday that it had moved to a grocery store-style format for food distribution, meaning visitors in need can look through goods on shelves in aisles like at any grocery store. The pantry had previously used a tabletop format, where goods and food items were arranged openly on tables within the pantry for visitors to take.
“In all that we do, we want to remove the stigma experienced by neighbors who are just trying to make ends meet,” said John Dumas, Share Food Share Love’s administrative director, in a written statement. “A self-serve grocery store format is one step.”
Share Food Share Love serves 15 communities in western suburban Cook County, including Brookfield, Riverside, North Riverside and the surrounding communities. According to the announcement, more than 7,000 people within the pantry’s service area were estimated to be living below the poverty line by the last U.S. Census.
The food pantry is open Tuesdays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Pantry visitors must bring proof of residency within one of the 15 communities and are allowed to take items on a first come, first served basis. For more information, visit the pantry’s website at sharefoodsharelove.com.
