The Park Ridge Library will serve as a collection site for a food drive that will be managed by the Junior Board of the Good Food Pantry. The Library will have a collection bin in its first floor lobby from Friday, December 15, to Saturday, December 30.
The food pantry’s Junior Board is made up of more than 50 students from Maine South High School, Resurrection College Prep, Notre Dame College Prep, Regina Dominican High School and Loyola Academy. Members help advance the mission of the pantry throughout the community by volunteering, recruiting, and fundraising.
“We are thrilled to to partner with the Good Food Pantry and its volunteers,” said Library Director Joanna Bertucci. “It’s wonderful to be able to serve as a collection site in the center of the community, especially during this winter season when the need is greater than ever.”
“We are very grateful to the library and to our community for all of the support that they have given us,” said Jocelyn McGovern, who coordinates the food pantry on a volunteer basis. “This is a great opportunity for high school students to give back, and the work of food pantries and other nonprofits helping those in need is as vital as ever this winter.”
About the Good Food Pantry
The Good Food Pantry was established in 2022 in memory of David Gooding, a long-time resident of Park Ridge, IL who worked in the food industry his entire career. Before passing away in 2011, he was the manager at Houlihan’s in Uptown Park Ridge where he spent his days making sure everyone who walked through the doors of the restaurant left happy. His family began the pantry to help the less fortunate members of the local communities who are struggling with food insecurity. Good Food Pantry collects non-perishable food and distributes it to partner organizations that give the food directly to those who have difficulty purchasing enough food to avoid hunger. More information about the Good Food Pantry is available on their website.
