St. Joseph's Food Pantry is serving more families and individuals during the pandemic and has increased its days and hours of operation to meet the new demands on families who are struggling.

The pantry is open Monday and Thursday 11-1 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday 4-6 p.m.
Sunday 10-12 pm

St. Joseph's is helping to meet the basic need of food.

The pantry spends approximately $1000. a month to purchase food from the Northern Ill Food Bank. The parish is purchasing basic fresh food such as potatoes, apples, oranges from ALDI and Jewel. The cost is almost $1600 a month.

Parishioners and community groups donate almost 20-30 pounds of food daily. The food is placed in the donation boxes provided at the doors of the church everyday.

As the pandemic continues the pantry needs approximately $2600. a month to help feed those in need in Lake County.

Click HERE for the list of emergency food needs. 

Opportunities to Serve in Lake County:

• What new volunteer opportunities have resulted from the pandemic?

New volunteer opportunities that came out of the pandemic are as follows:

1. Meals on Wheels drivers – we always need MOW drivers, but during the pandemic, many of our regulars have stepped aside, and we need new, temporary volunteers to fill the gap.

2. Senior Food Box Delivery – seniors who would normally go to a food pantry or are signed up to receive the Federal SFNP food, are struggling with not wanting to be exposed. We have created a new service wherein we deliver to seniors. Volunteers are needed once a week or so to pick up and drop off food boxes. We have a handful of volunteers from Libertyville.  But could use more. 

3. Meal Pick Up Sites – Since we can no longer sponsor congregate meals at this time for seniors, we have opened 4 sites where midday meals are handed out. We need a few more volunteers to man these sites. 

4. MOW Packers and Food Pantry Stockers – as with MOW drivers, our regular volunteers for these positions have taken a step back during the pandemic. We need to fill in to cover the work.

5. Our community suppers in Round Lake and Highwood suspended when both parishes closed.  Recently, we reopened our supper in Highwood, with carryout food meals.  We hope to do the same in Round Lake soon.  We will need sponsors to support these carryout meal services.  And more volunteers in the future as we plan to transition to limited dine-in models.  

   Please contact Terri Denny at Catholic Charities:847-782-4116 or Sue Fowler-sfowler@catholiccharities.net volunteer coordinator

Click here for more opportunites to serve in Lake County.

If parishioners want to help and get:

• diapers any sizes for Aid for Women
• Mary and Joseph-large and x-large mens t-shirts and socks, men's underwear and sweatshirts any sizes and toiletries
• PADS: men's boxer style underwear and socks, women's (all sizes) underwear and socks
• Viatar House of Hospitality-ALDI cards
• Bed Ministry: Twin size Bed in a bag (Walmart)
• Wincester House and Meals on Wheels Senior Care Bags: women and men's socks, word find puzzles books-large print, 12-14 piece puzzles, little stuffed animals.

Catholic Charities counseling, housing, emergency services, and some senior services are now being provided over the phone.  Individuals should call the main number, 847-782-4000, or the emergency services line, 847-782-4100.

Open from 9 am to 1 pm.

 
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
671 S. Lewis Ave
Waukegan, IL 60085
Office: (847) 782-4126
Fax: (847) 782-1032
http://www.catholiccharities.net

Click on the below box to find a list of local resources during the challenging time. 

 

Franciscan Outreach’s COVID-19 Crisis Franciscan Outreach continues to put critical measures in place to protect the health and safety of our guests during this COVID-19 crisis. Many of the men and women we serve are at higher risk of illness, like COVID-19, because often times they have underlying medical conditions and many are 60 years old or older. We're working closely with our community partners, including Rush University Medical Center, Lawndale Christian Health Center and A Safe Haven to address the urgent needs of our city’s most vulnerable residents. Click HERE  for more information.