Amanda: Solidarity
As my week spending $4/day for food draws to an end, I’ve spent a good amount of time reflecting on why I chose to partake in this ‘challenge’, what I have learned, and what this means for me moving forward in my work at the food pantry...
October: Making the Most of SNAP
This month we'll be sharing tips on how to make the most of SNAP benefits. We'll be sharing sample grocery lists and talking about unit pricing to better compare prices at the grocery store. In that, we'll also discuss cooking tips...
Bri: Careful Shopping with Nutrition in Mind
As one of two Registered Dietitians on staff at the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, you can usually find me by the food. I love almost everything about food: shopping for it, prepping and cooking it, and most of all...
Monnette - Feeding a Family
There have been two times in my life that brought me close to feeling the way I felt this week, when I was a few years out of college, by myself and on a tight budget and when I was a new mom, single and transitioning into a new field...
Betsy - Getting By
I woke up thinking about coffee because coffee is how I start my day. Coffee is expensive and my usual morning cup would have destroyed my daily budget of $4.00. I skipped the coffee. I decided to fill up on water instead. Lots of...
Laura: Planning and Prep
Board member Laura Gutierrez is volgging about her SNAP Challenge experience this week! Check out her videos through the links below.
Lauren: Cracking the Budget
My shopping trip yesterday took much longer than I thought. While I made a list, I needed to get a better idea of pricing, so it was a slow process to see what would actually make it into my cart. I ended up going to the Aldi near my...
Teri: Making Trade-offs
I can’t go to the grocery store without making a menu for the week and then a list. This week was harder as I was consciously choosing budget friendly meals that I knew my family would eat. I fretted about it for days.
Pantry Pulse Fall 2018
More Than FoodMeet George
No Matter the challenge, George and his family face it head-on. George, his wife Adelina, and his stepson Nicholas take obstacles in stride, not afraid to seek-out resources that will make their lives easier.
Doing the "Right Thing"
One of Vickie Engelhardt’s enduring memories as a Pantry volunteer is the first time she worked to register new clients.
Leveraging the Power of Volunteers
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) and four partner Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have set an ambitious goal: reach 1 million volunteer hours by 2021.