PantryPulse
ANNUAL REPORT, JULy 1, 2011 - JUNE 30, 2012
Oak Park River
Forest Food Pantry
Board of Directors
J. Peter Clark, President
Laura Beebe, Vice-President
Donna Myers, Treasurer
Mary Jane Keitel, Secretary
Elizabeth Sweeney Backes
Michael Caprile
Collete English Dixon
Matt Gross
Bob Haisman
Melanie Halvorson
Maria Monahan
Diane Palumbo
Linda Sandman
Jamie Stanesa
Nancy Watson
Pantry Staff
Michele Zurakowski
Executive Director
Dawn Altman, Finance Specialist
Paula Berg, Pantry Manager
Kristi Braun
Community Program Manager
Rita Kahn, Development Assistant
HOuRS
Every Saturday:
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
1st Wed. of the month:
7:00 – 8:30 pm
2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th
Wednesday
of the month:
3:30 – 5:00 pm
Dear Friends,
We want to share with you one of many moments at Oak Park River
Forest Food Pantry when you touched someone’s life. “It’s been a long
time since I’ve felt special, but today I do,” Gloria told us while finishing
her shopping. She was thrilled that she was able to select fresh eggplant
and a box of donated Panko bread crumbs. Eggplant Parmesan was on
her mind as she hurried home to cook for her family.
Gratitude was on our minds. We were grateful to the person who
donated the box of bread crumbs, to the volunteers who treated Gloria
with such respect, to the community that supports us so generously that
we were able to make someone feel special in such a simple way.
Your partnership in that community has allowed us to do great work
this year and is deeply appreciated. We hope that as you read this
report, you will take pride in how you are helping us work together as
a community to reduce hunger.
Our focus throughout this past fiscal year has been on partnership
and community. Knowing that we can never meet all the needs of our
clients alone, we have been reaching out to others to forge stronger
bonds of service. Inside this report, you’ll read about our collaboration
with Oak Park River Forest
Area Walk-In Ministry
to link our clients to a Job
Readiness Program. You’ll
learn about our efforts to
get more fresh produce for
our clients by working with
local gardeners and farmers.
You’ll see how we’ve tapped
Executive Director Michele Zurakowski accepts money
the community for expert
Mitch Readling collected in lieu of presents
volunteer support – so much
on his 8th birthday. Photo courtesy Cate Readling
so that we won a prestigious technology
award for the work those volunteers
enabled. And how volunteers are
building a broader community to raise
awareness of hunger’s impact.
While we have collaborated extensively
to increase opportunities, we have
also worked assiduously to husband
resources well. Working with Food
Pantry Network partner agencies, we
Board President J. Peter Clark with
donor and volunteer Gy Menninga.
reassessed our service area, discovered
Photo courtesy Dawn Altman.
points of service duplication and reduced
them. Service area adjustments allowed each of the food pantries in
our network to better serve its core constituents.
Together, our efforts mean that no one in our community needs to
go to bed hungry. We provided emergency food to 16,189 families
(47,258 individuals) during this fiscal year. Each family received an
average of 40 pounds of food, including five pounds of fresh produce.
Our grant-funded Nutrition Education Program continued to help
clients make healthful and informed choices—and allowed many to
sample a Kale-Fruit Smoothie!
Your generous support enables and inspires our work. We invite you
to review the following pages to see how your vital support—as a
volunteer, a donor, or both—has served to not only feed people, but
to make so many clients feel as special as Gloria.
On behalf of the board, staff and the clients we serve: Thank You!
Sincerely,
Michele Zurakowski, Executive Director
J. Peter Clark, Board President
Working together to provide hunger relief in our community.
More than 50 million people, or nearly 15 percent of all
Americans, were unable to buy enough food in 2011,
according to United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) research. Leading hunger expert Craig
Gundersen, professor of Agricultural and Consumer
Economics at the University of Illinois, recently
researched the most cost-effective ways to reduce such
food insecurity.
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry focuses on two of
five factors that have been shown to have the greatest
impact in alleviating hunger. Gunderson recommends
that advocates and policy-makers concentrate on
enabling high participation rates in SNAP (Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program or “food stamps”);
providing emergency food through food banks and
pantries; providing food for children over the summer
when they can’t access school lunch programs;
ensuring low food prices; and improving financial
management skills.
In the last fiscal year, the Pantry helped connect 153
eligible families to SNAP, and the average monthly
household benefit was $160.
The USDA estimates that due to multiplier effects, every
$1 provided by SNAP returns $1.79 to the local economy.
Thus, the Pantry’s efforts—in addition to helping secure
food for hungry families—bring $43,819 per month into
our local economy.
The Pantry is grateful for the following
DONORS of food during FY 2012
Accelerated Rehabilitation
Anwar Achras
Janet Aganad
Bobbi Allen
Alpine Foods
Dawn Altman
Ameri Corps Vista
American Metalcraft
Ascension School - Wolf Scouts
Austin Blvd Christian Church
Heidi Babbo
Mary Lou Backes
Bahai Children of Oak Park
Baird & Warner
Richard & Linda Baltsen
Jane Barker
Beit Midrass Congregation
Allison Bennette
Charlotte Berg
Colleen Berg
Linda Bernat
Beye Elementary School
Jill Bisluk
Jennifer Borg
Ken & Sue Boyer
Bradley Family
Michael Brennan
Breuggers Bagles
Bright Pink
Brooks Middle School
Jean Brummer
Nancy Burghardt
Michael Byers/Beverly Hight
Caribou Coffee
Terri Carlton
Evelyn Carney
Hamilton Family
Harrison Ashton
Harvard Church
Alex Hasapis
Hatch Patch Garden
Hatch School Daisy Troop
Ron Heiman
Hemingway Foundation
Hempel Warner Family
Hepzibah Children’s Assoc.
Barb Hickey
Hjalmarson/Kennedy
Jessica Hoekestra
Jennifer Hoke
Holly Court Parking Garage
Holmes Elementary School
Honest Tea
Lee Irvin
Irving School Girl Scouts
Erin & John James
Carla Jankowski
Jim White Photography Ltd.
Jimmy John’s
Emma Johnson
Sheree Johnson
Stasia Jomell
Adam Kalish
Norma G. Kanter
Aaron Kaufman
Dan Kess
Alice Kinard
Kline Famile
Susan Klinger
Cathi Knickrehn
Mary Jo Kuenster
Julie Kult
our accomplishments
cost effective
What works? Cost effective
ways to reduce hunger
OPRF Supper Club
JoAnn O’Reilly
Panera Bread
Rusty Parrish and Keith Turner
Kevin Pearson
Penzey’s Spices, Oak Park
D. Pepper
L. Peters-Fransen
Heidi Peterson
Judith Peterson
Luci Petrovici
Pilgrim Congregational Church
Jean Pogge
L. Poirier
Prairie State Animal Hosp,
Dr. John Brancel
Preferred Meal Systems, Inc.
(Don Jones)
Judy Presta and Mark Geraci
Kate Pripasich
Bob & Dolores Proko
Prudential Premier Realty
Stacy Rechtin
Red Hen Bread
Lynn Rees
Regency Terrace Condo Assn.
Geni Remback
J. Richeiner
Shirley Rissman
River Forest Bake Club
River Forest Village
Olivia Roeger
Lisa Rohland
Roosevelt Middle School
Camryn Rowan
Robert Rowe
Cultivating relationships, nourishing lives
Investments can be a lot like gardens--in the right
hands and with careful tending, we reap what we
sow. Our success in fiscal 2012 at Oak Park River
Forest Food Pantry is no exception. During the
prior year, we planted seeds of collaboration with
partner agencies, our community, clients, and
volunteers. With careful nourishment, these
relationships blossomed during the past year and
continue to bear fruit by allowing us to provide
hunger relief and a broader range of services to
an even greater client base.
“With the generous support and investment of
our donors, volunteers, and friends, we are now
seeing more food donations, a more actively
engaged community, and the exciting prospect
of future infrastructure improvements,” says
Executive Director Michele Zurakowski.
At some point, all gardens
require a little pruning. The
16,189
Pantry recognized the need to
adjust its service boundaries in client visits
January, releasing clients with
access to other area pantries in order to better
serve its most vulnerable core clients. Yet despite
a reduction from 28 to 12 zip codes, tough
economic times caused family visits to steadily
increase as the year progressed, from 15,723 last
year to 16,189 this year. The percentage of Oak
Park and River Forest clients rose from 14%
to 20%. “We are still seeing a lot of first-time
clients, but also many
who are returning after
20% of clients are a two- or three-year
Oak Park & River
hiatus. They’ll see me
or another volunteer
Forest residents
they recognize, and
ranging from young
children creating yard
signs, to teens preparing
beds, adults harvesting
plants, and Eagle Scouts
building a supply shed.
“It’s been a process
learning what grows
best, due to space and
weather, and which
items pantry clients
Beautiful bread rescued
from Red Hen.
desire most. Tomatoes
Photo courtesy Dawn Altman
are always popular, along
with beans, turnips, lettuce and other greens,” says
mission committee member Linda Martens.
The Pantry’s connection with partner agency
Oak Park River Forest Area Walk-in Ministry
(WIM), proved jointly beneficial, as both
gratefully received two generous collaborative
grants totaling $73,000. An anonymous
family foundation grant for $48,000 will
fund infrastructure improvements for both
organizations who share space in First United
Church of Oak Park, including updated
computers, printers, phone systems, air
conditioning, a new security door and electrical
work. The second grant from Greater Chicago
Food Depository for $25,000 supports a Job
Readiness Program initiated by WIM in 2011.
Lack of sustainable, living wage employment is
the greatest factor driving the need for hunger
relief services. “This grant allowed us to hire
a program manager aided by more of our
wonderful, skilled volunteers. We consider this
a ‘Job Basics 101,’’ stresses Cristy Harris, WIM
Executive Director. Program expansion assists
Barb Langer
Jane Lare
D. Lauber
Laurel School
Peggy Lav
Legacy Sports Camp (Dan Kane)
Jennifer Lewis
Lynn Libera
Ray Ligot
Lincoln Elementary School,
Oak Park
Lincoln Elementary School,
Girl Scouts
Lincoln Elementary School,
River Forest, Heart Work
Nora Lisastoures
Herta Lisic
Liskiewitz Family
Ed Liss
Andrea Lissuzzu
Tracy Litsey
Laura Loewe
Penny Long
Longfellow School
Lou Conte Dance Studio
Gary Love
Loyola
Lucky’s Sandwich Co.
Lenny Lutz
Dianda Lyle
Barbara Gabriello Mag
Rose Maguire
Mann Elementary School
Mann School 1st Grade
Mann School Cub Scouts Pack 39
Mann School Girl Scouts
Cathy & Jerry Masterson
Sheila McCabe
Jessi McCarroll
A. McGee
Andrea & Bill McGlynn
Peg McKinley
Maureen McLachlan
McMeyer Family
P. McMillan
Patricia Meadors - Pro Musica
Bobbi Meier
Patrick Melville
Ian Miller
Tom Miller
Julie Moller
Mike Morley
Margery Morningstar
Alexis Murillo
R. Murphy
Music School of Oak Park
Musikgarten of Oak Park
Aneesh Nawal
Matt Nelson
Patience Nelson
Kathy Nesburg
Maureen Newman
North Avenue Business
Association
Carol Nufer
Oak Park Bakery
Oak Park Farmer’s Market
Oak Park Library
Oak Park Park District
Oak Park Police Dept.
Oak Park Temple
Oak Park Temple
- Glasser Preschool
Oak Park Township Senior
Lunch Program
Oak Park Women’s Bowling Group
Oak Park Women’s Guild
Anastasia O’Brien
Betsy O’Brien
D. O’Brien
Stacy O’Brien,
Grace Pollek O’Brien
Kathleen O’Connor
Andrea Ojeder
OPRF Environmental Club
OPRF Girls Swim & Dive
OPRF JKB Leadership Group
OPRF Marching Band
OPRF Newcomers Club
food donors
Sheila Carson
Cheney Mansion
Vicki Chou
Christ Episcopal Church
Christian Theater of Oak Park
Eric Clark
Jeleona & Sadie Collins
Mary Ellen Collins
Judy Compton
Concordia University
Concordia U. Early Childhood
Center
Natalie Conway
Trey Costello
Phyllis Cronan
Cross Town Food Rush
Rich Crowe
Cub Scout Pack 1B
Carolyn Culler
Donna Culver
M. DeCola
Carol Deese
Delgado Family
J. Delgracias
Alice Desai
Natalie Deutsch
Josh, Sam & Julia Dingman
Dominican University
Terese Donnelly
Tom Dooley
Door-to-Door Organics
Door-to-Door Organics
Customers’ Food Drive
Doubletree Hotel
Vanessa Dreckman
Peggy Dring
Erica Drzonek
Eastlake Chiropractic
Economy Shop
Sophie Eldred
Jack Elze
Raj Emmadi
Millie Erhardt
Judith Erickson
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
Stan Faust
Fenwick High School
Fenwick High School
- Spanish Club
First Baptist Church
First United Church of Oak Park
First United - Midpoint
First United Methodist Church
First United Preschool
Christine Fisher
Fitness Formula Club
Fitzgerald’s
Emily Fjerstad & Allison Howe
Flat Top Grill
Flavour Cooking School
Frank Fletcher
Fly Bird
Flying V Athletic Center
Focuscope, Inc.
Erin Foley
Forest Park Community Center
Sheila Fortinberry
Sarah Francis
Friends of Oak Park Conservatory
Annabella Fritts
Fun Quilts
Jasmine Garcia
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
Geppetto’s Toy Box
- Olivia Saunders
Joan Gianniopoulous
Ben Gierl, Meridian Heights Farm
Girl Scout Troop 40888
Glasser Preschool - GK
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Gorecki Family
Grace Episcopal Church
Grace Lutheran (River Forest)
Doris Graham
Charlie Green
H & S Richter
Halloran Family
Melanie Halvorson
Bill Hamel and Belinda Lutz
Clare Ruffalo
Peg Sabatino
Sachem Company
-Paul Beckwith, Laurie Bankers
Gary Salem
Ron Sanders
Marie Schrage
Jackie Schroeder
Pat Shanley
Ray Simons
Joe Sjostrom
Kathleen Slowiak
Joseph T. Smith
Amy & Gary Soumar
Pat Spagat
Square One Organics
(D. Henderson)
St. Catherine/St. Lucy
St. Christopher’s Church
St. Edmund Parish
St. Edmund School
St. Giles Catholic Parish
St. Giles Family Mass
St. Giles Girl Scouts
St. Luke’s Youth Group
St. Mary School
St. Vincent Ferrer Parish School
Halina Staszewska
Stoltz/Agnew families
Jay Strode
Terri Stupinski
Mary Swiontaniowski
Eric Tabman
Marion Tettlof
TOPS
Three Tarts Bakery
Tammy Trab
Trader Joe’s, Oak Park
M. Uhler & H. Strahler
Ultra Foods, Forest Park
Union Park 610 Masonic Lodge
United Lutheran Church
Unity Church
Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
University of Illinois,
Sociology Dept.
US Postal Workers’ Food Drive
Patty Vaccarella
Patrick Van Bustrick
Kim Vandergnerd
Vietnamese Buddhist
Youth Camp
Jeanette Vincent
Von Steuben High School
Lincoln Warner
Weichert Realtors
Weight Watchers of Oak Park
Zoe Weisburg
Wells Ipema
West Cook YMCA
West Suburban Clinic
West Suburban PADS
West Suburban Temple
Westchester Raiders Football
Ed White
Whittier School
Whole Foods Market, River Forest
Stephanie Wilkening
Willard School
Sandy Williams
Wimbledon Condos
Vicki Witt
Kelley Witzenton
Kim Wohlschlaeger
Wonder Works Organic Garden
WSCPC- The OP/RF 911 Center
Kevin Wyllie
Kathy Wyman
Yoga Trek
Nicole Yuska
Liz Ziehl
1000 South East Ave Block Party
21 Club - OPRD Down Syndrome
Area Playground
500-600 Block Highland
800 Block of William Street
(These are the donors that signed in when food was dropped off, there are probably many
more anonymous donors for us to thank.)
say with a relieved smile or hug, “You’re still here!”
recalls Paula Berg, Pantry Manager.
Rescued fresh produce
86,962
from vendors who keep us
generously supplied rose
pounds of
from 30,811 to 86,962 produce rescued
pounds, or by 35%, to meet
our clients’ growing needs. Families leave with
an average of five pounds of fresh produce per
visit, up from two pounds last year. The Pantry
continues to expand its food rescue program
by recruiting more local grocers and bakers to
donate useable produce and bread items. Joining
our donor list are Jimmy John’s, Caribou Coffee,
and Jewel Food Stores in both Oak Park and
River Forest. Much appreciated vendor support
continues from Door-to-Door Organics,
Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD),
Montalbano Farms, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s,
Red Hen Bread, Penzeys Spices, Ultra Foods,
and Oak Park Farmers’ Market, which donates
leftover produce from participating farmers
after market hours.
Pantry clients reap the benefits of community
vegetable garden bounties gratefully received
from Cheney Mansion, Dominican University,
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, Hatch Patch,
OPRF High School, Oak Park Temple, St. Giles
Church, Wonder Works Children’s Museum, and
individual gardeners.
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church’s Community
Garden has been a Pantry supplier for nearly six
years. The brainchild of church member Lisa
Johnson, the garden’s six raised beds yield five to
ten bags of weekly
produce from May
to October. Within
the congregation’s
Garden Ministry,
a core group of
church volunteers
Fair Oaks Garden.
tend the program,
Photo courtesy Dawn Altman
both Pantry and
WIM
clientele
with basic job
search skills such
as
computer
and
internet
use to conduct
online searches,
Job Readiness Program participant receives
interviewing and
basic computer training from a volunteer.
professional skills.
Photo Courtesy of Dawn Altman
The Pantry was also the proud recipient of
Lumity’s Nonprofit Technology Leadership
Award for $7,500. This award recognizes and
rewards nonprofits demonstrating innovative
use of technology that positively impacts their
organization. The Pantry realized the need
to revamp its client
intake system to
$7,500 award
provide
a
more
for technology
equitable distribution
leadership
of services, along with
more accurate reporting data required for future
funding opportunities. This ambitious mission
entailed drawing on the expertise of skilled,
local IT community volunteers to customize the
donated software program and train volunteers
and pantry staff in registration procedures. Now
all household members are linked in our database,
clients can be connected to other services, food
allotments will be tailored to family size, and
accurate reporting data is in place for funders.
Accepting the Lumity Non-Profit Technology
Leadership Award in March. Photo courtesy Lumity.
The Food Pantry gratefully acknowledges the generosity of its donors.
Donations July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012
Gifts in Kind
Maria Delis, registered dietician
Banc of America Leasing and Capital
Keith Carrizosa, IT Specialist
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Dale Youngkrantz, IT specialist
Sarah and William Kooser
William and Kathryn Ksander
Becky Kuntz
John Learn to Trade, LLC
Jay Lenstrom
Lynette Lum
The Lumpkin Family Foundation
Diane MacWilliams and
$10,000 +
Robert Nelson
AT&T
Robert and Elizabeth Martin
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Carol McAdam
Mark and Kristen Coe
Robert and Michele McAndrews
George M. Eisenberg Foundation
Thomas McCauley
for Charities
Karen McGirr
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Pamela McNamara
Julie and Scott Moller
Louis and Joan Mercuri
Donna Myers and Aaron Lebovitz
Thomas Miller
Oak Park River Forest Community
Ronald and Barbara Moline
Foundation
and David Moline
Karol Moller
$5,000-$9,999
Network for Good
William and Staci Beam
Nineteenth Century Charitable
Timothy and Rebecca Doar
Association
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
Matthew Pakulski
Barry and Kimberly Fields
Parkview Presbyterian Church
First United Church of Oak Park
Harold and Mary Duffy Pelzer
Van Holkeboer and Linda K.
James Poznak
Bachelder
John and Theresa Rigas
Janning Family Foundation
River Forest Service Club
Lumity
Marie Rock
Manaaki Foundation
Monroe and Fran Sullivan Charitable James and Kathryn Rolfes
Roosevelt Middle School
Fund
S.R. Drug Corporation
Kathryn and Alan Nesburg
Smith Powell and Eva Janzen Powell Saint Luke Parish
Sherry Salmons
St. Edmund Parish
Sanem’s
Leslie Sutphen and Byron Lanning
Janet and Ken Schiffman
Stephen Schlesinger
$1,000-$4,999
Diane and Robert Skinkle
Ann Alexander and Paul Fuoss
Sallie and Mark Smylie
Aria Group Architects, Inc.
Anna and Patrick Staunton
Daniel and Spencer Baker
Karin and Matthew Sullivan
Cynthia Barnard and Leonard
Alice and John Tulley
Grossman
Laura Tzeng
Daniel Beach and Cynthia Jared
Louis and Linda Valsoano
Laura and Michael Beebe
Kenneth and Nancy Van Der Griend
Susan and William Black
Mary Sue Voth
Louise and Leo Bruynseels
Mary and Roger Walters
Rosemary Camilleri
Nancy Watson and John Metzger
Michael and Linda Caprile
Andrew Wetzler and Claudine Ise
Michael and Nancy Carr
Wilkinson Design
Rhonna Cass
Willard Elementary School
Nancy and J. Peter Clark
Robert and Irene Worley
Frances and Donald Coe
Kenneth Wright
Community Bank of Oak Park
River Forest
$200-499
Bruce and Gloria Cox
Paul Aeschleman and Patricia Feeley
CROP Walk/Church World Services
Mike and Kathy Altman
David Crossett
Darden Restaurants, Inc. Foundation Architectural Consulting Engineers
Marcia and Rick Ashton
Michael and Barbara DeHaan
Richard Avrut and Annemarie Slobig
Daniel Doyle
Heidi Babbo
Wendy Epstein and David Dranoff
Tom Bair
Evangelical Lutheran Church
Baird and Warner, Inc.
in America
James Bajo
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Women
Barbara Ballinger
Barbara Fanta
Chuck Belanger
John Filosa and Cathaleen Roach
Bentron Financial Group, LLC
First Baptist Church of Oak Park
Robert and Mary Berg
First United Methodist Church
Linda Bernat
Mary Fitzgerald
Good Heart Work Smart Foundation Oak Park River Forest High School
Black Organization for
Charlotte Goossens
Student Success
Grace Episcopal Church
Vivienne and Joseph Botsch
Grace Lutheran Church and School
David and Mena Boulanger
Edward and Marisa Green
Spiros Bourgikos and Keary Cragan
Melanie and Robert Halvorson
Kristi and Paul Braun
Amy and Will Hansmann
John Brofman
Andrew and Elizabeth Hibel
William and Carolyn Browne
Elizabeth Holland and Gene Brandt
Kevin Buckley
Illinois Conference of the United
Laurel and Bill Bunkers
Church of Christ
Robert Burchill
Donna Jensen
Nancy Burgoyne and Paulo Goelzer
John F. and Joan P. Mullins
Kristin Burns
Charitable Foundation
James and Jill Kopecky
Jason and Tamara Koransky
Donna and Ronald Kotulack
Stanley and Patricia Kudlacz
William Kuehl
James Lambe
Jonathan Laney
Karl Langhans and Diane Mustain
Robert Lannon
Teresa Larocca
Karl Lauger and Denise Parnell
Michael Lee and Melissa Coughlin
Byron Lee and Audrey Williams-Lee
Joan and Don Lennie
Nancy Leonard
Janet Leong and Kevin Crowell
Barbara and Martin Letscher
Kimberly Lightford
Steven Liska
Ross and Susan Lissuzzo
Kristin and John Logerquist
Marot Lorimer
Laura Lowe and James Tabel
Wayne and Phyllis Lucht
Ruth Luthringer
Rose Mabwa
Donna and James Mains
Ernest and Jane Malik
Mameloshn Yiddish Song Group
Ralph and Bonnie Mandell
Margaret and James Massarello
Charlaine and Patrick McAnany
Philip McAndrew
Amy and Edward McCormack
Betty Lou McGhee
Patricia McMillen and Samuel Bader
David and Deloris McMullin
Michael McNallan
Patricia and James McNally
David and Catherine McNary
Chris and Connie Meister
Richard Miller
Susan Mlot
Joann Moles
James Moller
Jane Moore
Jane Moore
Janice Moskoff
Beth and Steven Mrkvicka
Elisabeth and John Muhlenberg
Rocio Munoz and Dave Dallam
Bernard and Sandy Myers
Edward and Sara Naureckas
Zachary Nauth and Ileana Gomez
Tracy Nicastro and Ross Roloff
William and Cheryl Niro
Oak Park River Forest
Newcomers Club
Donald and Margaret O’Brien
Cynthia Ohata
Sarah Olszowka
One Smooth Stone and Mark
Ledogar
Therese O’Neill
Anne Oscherwitz
Gregory Padgett
Mark Palchak
Allen and Georga Parchem
Shama Patel
Donald and Rogette Patterson
Priscilla Perkins
Gregory Peterson
Edward and Patricia Petrick
Elizabeth Margaret Picone
Rebecca Piper
David Pochyly
Diane and Donald Pochyly
Sheila and Eddie Pont
Mike Powills
Joel Press and Gayle Rosenthal
James and Amy Pritchard
Margaret and John Puccini
Joan Radovich
Mary Raleigh and Edward McGillen
Hank Bode and Susan Cartland-Bode
Ann and Jerome Bolan
Maarten Bosland
Judith and Michael Bowker
William and Geri Brauneis
David Brauner
Margaret Brennan and
Thaddeus Brzyski
Daniel Brice
Susan and Nick Bridge
Graham and Sandy Brisben
Thomas and Tracy Brooker
Patrick Brown
Eva and Tobias Brown
Elizabeth and Stephen Bruner
Kerry and Mike Buhmann
Nancy Burghardt
Miriam and Mark Burkland
Roz and Thomas Byrne
Jean Caffey Lyles
Sue Campbell
Pattie and Dr. J.C. Campuzano
Tom Cargie
Mary Carney
Barry and Christy Chapman
Benjamin Cheek
David and MarySusan Chen
Cheney Mansion and Jean Kwas
Judy Chrisman and William Crozier
Shirley and Jack Christell
Paul Clark
Stephen and Colleen Clarke
Clean Sweep and Diana Carpenter
Ruby Collins
Roberta Coolidge
Peggy Coon and John Coon, IV
Margaret Cragg
Sue Crothers-Gee and Bill Gee
Donna and Carter Culver
Christine Dame
Chris and Stan Davis
Patrick and Pamela Deady
Catherine Deam
Melinda Degucz
Denise Delaurent and Louis Thetard
Maria and Constantine Delis
Lisa and Tim DeLisle
Democratic Party of Oak Park and
Mary Howorth
Laura and Steven Derks
James Dickert
Michael Dinges
Timothy and Claudia Divis
Michele and John Donley
Christine and Christopher Donnelly
Sue Anne Donoghue
Nancy Dummer
Tracey Dummer
Andi Dunn and Marion Kessy
Mark Dunn
Christine DuSell and Ronald Elling
Dianne and Robert Ebert
Lowell and Judith Ann Eckberg
Holly Economos
Ellen Edwards
Patricia Edwards
Aimee Eicher
Stephanie Eiger
Susan Eleuterio
Lavergne and Paul Fanta
Janet Ferguson
Terry and Sarah Finnegan
Frank and Kathy Fiorito
Beckie Fischer
Gayle and Ian Fisher
Dale and Marilyn Fitschen
Kristin and Seth Flanders
Jeffery Foster and Ellen Mason
Larry and Annette Frank
Carolyn Friedman
Friends of Don Harmon
Roberta and Steven Fruth
Margaret Fulkerson
Barbara Furlong
Richard and Carol Lundin
Carol Mancini
Karen Mansfield
Paul and Deborah Manus
Vince Marine
Loraine and Patrick Martin
Elizabeth Martin
Mary Kay Martire
MasterBets
Beth and Arthur Matteotti
Laura Maychruk
James McClure
Joseph McDonald and
Madeleine Raymond
Sheila and John McDonnell
Charles McElravey and Ruth Hughes
Janet McEnaney
Rebecca McFall
Ann McGlynn
Cathy McGuire
Terry and Jana McIlroy
Frank McNichols and Kate Wester
Kathleen McShane
Patricia Medo
Beth Messina
Neva Millonas
Melanie and Gary Minnix
Bonnie Mize
David Moon and Teri Strenski
Randel and Linda Mosley
Thomas Mulvihill
Katherine and Frank Murphy
Lisa Murphy
Mary and James Murray
Mignon Nance
Maureen Newman
Lauren Nichols
Charlotte Niznik and Daryl Darden
Tom Nolan
Kimberly Norberg
Wendy Norris and Stuart Nelsen
John Norton
Nancy Norton
Tamara Notier and Peter Jaffe
Oak Park Friends Meeting
Loretta and John O’Dowd
Maura O’Hara and Robert Wielgos
June Oliver
Sarah Olson
Margaret O’Malley and William
Kroeplin
One Cause
John Ortega
Laura O’Shea and Albert Sturtevant
Donna Oswald
Lorraine Owles and Phil Wagreich
Jennifer and Matthew Packheiser
Arnold and Barbara Pagniucci
Michael Palac
Bonnie and David Parker
Donna and John Patterson
Dawn Paulsen
Elizabeth Payne
Kevin and Tina Pearson
Betty and Donald Peaslee
Anibal and Ann Pepper
Prudence Petersen
Viktoras Petroliunas
Mary Jo and Donald Pikul
Rachel Pildis
Jacquelyn Pope and Donald Share
Jayne and John Poplett
Powers Training and
Consulting Group Inc.
Richard and Barbara Prendergast
Ruth and Richard Prescott
Jerome Pritchett
Jeffrey and Mary Puch
Sharon Quintenz Van Pelt
Peggy Ramette
Mike Raymon
Laura and John Reardon
Lisa Reed
Dolores and Don Register
$0-99
1200 N. Kenilworth Block Party
Erin Ader
Jeanne Affelder
Ellen Alldredge
Tennille Allen
Molly and Steven Allscheid
Jody Ames Smith
Patricia Anderson
Paula and David Andries
James and Joyce Angell
Marilyn Arado
Tigran and Mara Arakelian
Thomas and Karen Ard
Aviva Arieti
Marie Arlington
Shannon and Riyazhassan Asaria
Kris and Kenneth Bahl
Monnette Bariel
Kent Bartram and Terry Wittenberg
Cynthia and Chris Beaulieu
Dottie Beeler
Lloyd and Rita Louise Behrenbruch
Dena Bell
Priscilla Bell
Raymond Berens
Beret Ltd.
Doreen Berger and Wayne Luepker
Carole Bergstraesser
Linda Bernas
Allan and Rhoda Bernstein
Tara and Lizzie Bernstein
Lee Betterman
G C Bien
Gail Bieschke
Bob and Hilda Birney
Karen Blatchford
Joseph and Yvonne Bobak
Alyce and David Bode
Andre Bonakdar
Camille Bowman
Daniel and Kathleen Branand
Edna Braun
Charles and Patricia Brauner
Belinda Bremner and Jake Dickens
Anna and William Brennan
Gayle and Paul Brinkman
Amy Brogioli
Wilfred Brooke
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
Diane Brown
Karonica Brown
Jennifer and Alexander Brown
Russell Brown
J. Danforth and Carol Browne
Osbert and Margaret Bruno
Sarah and Carl Buerger
Carol Bularzik and Kenneth Cuculich
Debra Bullock
Margaret and Don Burk
Cora Caffey
Lori Calcinardi
Cleraine Camper
Nancy and Anthony Cap
James and Kathleen Capone
Joyce Carey
Nello and Georgette Carlini
Cheryl Carlson and Dennis Verville
William Carlton
Terri Carlton
Debra Carroso
Carol and Donald Carter
Stephen and Laurie Casey
and Janine Casey
Lois and Frank Catrambone
Donna Cervini
Oscar Chacon
Eileen and Edward Chapa
Andrea Charest and Michael Foy
Michael Charlton
Mary Noel Chavez
Ruth Ann Clark and Ardith Hayes
Margot Clayton
Janice and John Clement
Priscilla Glawe
Amy Goodman and Gordon Hellwig
Barbara Gordon
Allison Gosser
Josefina Gradilla
Tony Graefe and Rebecca Noble
Carla and Anthony Graham-White
Donna Gray
Sanford Greenberg
and Elizabeth Perdue
Calvin and Theresa Greene
Jeffrey Greenwald
Barry and Marjorie Greenwald
Terry Griffin
Martin Grochala
David and Shirley Grott
Jean and Victor Guarino
Kelly and Scott Guhlstorf
Charles Gutfeld
John Haley
Thomas and Kathleen Halfpenny
Catherine Hall
Heidi Hamernik and John Forehand
Dawn Haney and Paul Engelhardt
Barbara Hansen
Anna and Peter Harlan
Sarah Harmon
Gregory and Dania Harris
Willie Mae Harris
Dorothy Harrold
Hatch School Girl Scouts
Winifred Haun and Stephen Parke
Harriet Hausman
Pat Healey
Nancy and Robert Heezen
Patricia Heiman
William Heineke and Joanne O’Hara
Heirloom Textiles
Stephen Heller
Michael Henning
Fred and Ann Hess
Elisabeth Hessler
Joan Hickey
Sherwin Ho and Mary Paulson
Virginia Hoffmann
Victoria Hollister
Evelyn and Richard Homuth
Laurie Hoppe
Sarah and Mitchell Horn
James and Martha Houston
Mary and David Howorth
Marsha and John Hubbuch
James and Christie Hunt
Krystyn Irvine and John Irvine III
Timothy Issel and Bryn Poulton
Mark and Janet Jackson
Carol Jackson
Todd Jacobson
Jennifer Jaros and
Edgar Rossbach, Jr.
Sandy Jefferson
Jane Jeffries and Mica Racine
Andrea Jepson
Kevin Johnson and Meredith Farster
Sarah Jolie
V. A. Jones
Mary and Christopher Joyce
Maria Bruno Kane
Hui Dok Kang and Stephanie Kendall
Erica Kazimir and Vincente Milianti
Ann Keeney
Peggy and Kevin Kell
Mary Ellen and Eugene Kelly
Eileen Kelly
Pat Kennedy
Jack and Patricia Kernan
Elizabeth Khoodikians-Guillette and
Arthur Lifshin
LeRoy and Cynthia Kleidon
Jack and Grace Knowles
Adam and Alma Knowles
Ben Kocarnik
Elizabeth Koch
Carol Koenig
Carol O’Brien
Patricia and Steven Olderr
Mary Jane Oliver
Mary Olson
Kathy and Adekunle Onayemi
JoAnn O’Reilly
Kenneth and Liesl Orenic
Kate Palm
Len and Cindy Palombi
Roman Paluch
Scott and Diane Palumbo
Norman and Valerie Parish
Christine Pastor
Darla Patterson
Julie and Matthew Patterson
Lisa Pearson
Marya and Michael Peters
James Peterson
Neal and Barbara Peyser and Jeremy
Peyser
Amanda Plancon
Mary Pokorny and Carey Garron
Maureen Pond
Robert and Joan Pope
Mary Ann Porucznik
Beth Powers and Hai Tao Huang
Preferred Meal Systems, Inc.
Judy Presta and Mark Geraci
Prudential Premier Realty, LLC
Patricia Pruitt
Dan and Sheila Raddatz
Rebecca Ralston
Kristen Ras
Janet and Raymond Raspatello
Kathleen Raymon
Jessica Rebstock
Douglas and Pegeen Reichert Powell
Laura Reiter
Charles Resch
Phillip Rice
Marija Rich
Lorraine Richter
Catherine Rison and Bruce Callahan
George Rissmann
Raymond Rogina
Constance and Kris Ronnow
Joanne Rosenbush
Lee Ruda
Heidi Ruehle-May and Paul May
Lisa Ruhland
Daniel and Patricia Ryan
Ann and Tom Ryan
Filip Rybicka and Jarmilla Klubertova
Pam Salotti
DeLacy Sarantos
Victoria Schander
James Scherer
Marilyn Schmid
Julie Schneider
Stephanie Schrodt
Bob Schubert and Bob Snyder
Richard Schurr and Beth Server
Diane Scott
Pamela and Ronald Scott
Mark and Evelyn Segal
Joanne Selden
Lisa and Jason Sensat
Paul and Lynda Shadrake
John and Monica Sheehan
Judy Shelstad
Shirtworks Inc.
Ellen and Bradley Shorser
Dolores Silverman
Maureen Skelton
Kristi Sloniger and Peter Conover
Regina Smedinghoff
Winifred Smedley
Karen and Dan Smith
Martha Smith
Snip City
Nancy Soro
Paul Spierling
Art and Sher Spooner
Kristi St Martin
Lisa and Lamar Johnson
Laura and Eric Jordahl
Kirkland and Ellis Foundation
Karen and David Latham
Thomas Liao and Beverly Sha
Chris and Kirk Liskiewitz
Mark and Debbie McCann
The Meyers Fund
Heather Moore and Steven Ginsberg
Oak Park and River Forest
High School/Empty Bowls
Oak Park Women’s Guild
Anastasia O’Brien
Wendy Owen and Gregory Wolski
Lorraine Padour
Pilgrim Congregational Church
Dominic and Mary Pisani
Rebecca Ross and Dennis Linder
Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest
Rush University Medical Center
Donata and Van Sapp
Kristin Schnabel
Carollina Song and Alexander Harris
Patricia Spagat
St. Catherine of Sienna-St. Lucy
St. Giles Family Mass
Moira Staggs
Jamie Stanesa and Paul Ellenbogen
Katherine and Jay Swift
Brian and Lois Thiessen Love
Thomas and Rebecca Turk
Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist
Congregation
The Ward Foundation
Jim Waring
Gary and Marilyn Wenzel
Whole Foods
Naomi Williams
Joseph Winski
Jim Wisuri and Vicki Lekovish
Diana and James Wright
Michele Zurakowski and
John Flanigan
$500-$999
Noreen Arnold
Claire and Paul Ashley
Susan and Paul Balter
Ted Barnes
William and Donna Barrows
Carole and Robert Batlivala
Deborah Bluminberg
Linda and Donald Bolte
Michael Brown and
Christina Marciniak
Marilyn Cantisano and
Donald Southworth
CB Richard Ellis Inc. Foundation
Bonnie and Don Chauncey
Christ Episcopal Church
Laura and John Christman
Ann Courter and Norman Hirsch
Stephen Crilly and Amy Massman
Karen Daniel and Alan Goldberg
Jean and John DeCaro
Judy and Richard Deogracias
Valerie and Michael Desiderio
Mary and Walter Dickie
Frank Dorn
Catherine Duke
Famous Liquors
The Feinstein Foundation
Linda Flack
Frank Fletcher
John Flynn
Freddy Jones Band
Paul and Nina Gegenheimer
Donald Giannetti
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Jim and Brenda Grusecki
John Guida
Patrick Guinan
Irene Hansen
Kathryn Heavey
John Henek
James Jackson
Melissa and Kenneth Kansa
Jacalyn Kareb
Mary Jane Keitel and Mark Bouman
Robert and Eileen Kleps
Dan and Sarah Knight
Coramae and Robert Burton
Helen and Nicholas Camasto
Mary Carroll
John Castellano
Sara Caswell and Robert Hyman
Joshua Chrisman
Michael and Theresa Clancy
Margaret and Stanley Clark
Diana Coates
John Connell
Kimberly and William Cornman
C.V. Cortelyou
Sue Cossey
Crown Royal/Bob Meier
Judy and Tapas Das Gupta
Don and Mary Ann De Bruin
Geraldine Delaney
Alice and Prakash Desai
Collette English Dixon
Vera and Duane Dowell
Bernard Dowling
Jayne Doyle
Rosanne Druian
Dorothy and Jacob Dumelle
C. Stuart Edwards
John and Jane Erickson
Karin Evans
Kelly Faulstich
Mark Fedota
Laura Feldman
Rita Fioravanti
First United Church
- Evening Division
Derek Flynn
Ruth Foley
Forest Agency Insurance
Geraldine Fox
Alan and Winifred Fox
Mary Katherine Fox
Andrea Fox
Karl and Kelly Frantz
Kristen and Edward Gallagher
Maria Garvy
Marylen and Michael Gentile
Rachel Ghigo
Susan Gilbert
Cindy Gilmore
Christian Golden
Bill and Pam Grady
Mike and Sheryl Grant
Andrea and Daniel Green
Henry Guerriero and
Cara Hendrickson
Lawrence and Jill Haas
James Haglund and Mary Sue
Komaniecki
Robert and Patricia Hahn
Janet and Robert Haisman
Hugh Halverstadt and Craig Endicott
Patricia Hannon and Peter Donoghue
Julie Ruth Harley
Teresa and Donald Harmon
Cristy Harris
Hatch School
Richard Hazan
Nancy Hess and Norm Amos
Barb and Rick Hickey
Joseph Hicks
Hinsdale High School Key Club
Barbara Hofmaier and David Heim
Kathy and Larry Hymson
Nancy and John Ide
Penelope Ingalls and Jack Hurwitz
Islamic Foundation
Kevin James
Bill Janulis and Karen Sweeney
Maria and Warren Jepson
Betty Johnson
Gregory and Peggy Jones
Janet Jones
Sophie Kaluziak and Rebekah Levin
Nita Kang
Mary and Steve Kastenholz
Colleen Keleher and Dennis Ryan
Cynthia Kielkucki
Heidi and Marc Kieselstein
Debra Klassman and Nicholas
Savramis
Anne Klassman
Jerome and Helen Klein
Judy and Jon Klem
Pamela Ransom
Martin Rathgeber
Rave Wines and Doug Springer
Timothy Raymon
Elizabeth Reed
Charlene Renner
John and Katie Roberts
Laura and John Roeger
Jeff Rosenkranz
Kathleen Russell and
Charles Krikorian
Marguerite Saecker
Jill Saponzick and Luis Torero
Lynn Scheir
Mary Schneider
Thomas and Susan Schouten
Marie Schrage
Terri and Paul Schroeder
Donna and Ralph Schuler
Scot Forge and Terry Berra
Daniel and Carmencita Senseng
Sandra and Jim Shimon
Renee and Michael Sichlau
Catherine Simon-Vobornik
David Sissone
Barbara Sivertsen and
Steven Latterell
Carla and Edward Sloan
Kerry Smith
St. Giles Council of Catholic Women
Linda Stephens and Rick Dore
Kathryn Stewart
Edward Stojakovic and Lisa Gillis
Heather and Marc Stone
James Strait and Janina Levy
Joan Suchomel
John Sullivan
Audrey and Pete Todd
Wayne and Barbara Vanek
Frank and Mary Vanker
Jason and Monica Vargas
Perry Vietti and Melanie Nowacki
Elaine and Steven Wade
Susan Waits
Debra Walters
Mary Jane Welter
Whittier School
David Wilson and Jackie Elkholm
Sue and Doug Winchell
Ginger and Phil Yarrow
Stephanie Yeager
Kathy and Albert Zaniolo
Douglas Zapotocny and
Marianne Protess
$100-199
John and Judith Alfonsi
Barbara Allelujka
Mary Altenbaumer
Susan Altier
Dawn and Chris Altman
American Metalcraft
Mary Anderson
Martha Anderson and
Kathleen A. Shaw
Lee and Mary Lou Anderson
Ruth Ashton
Carol Bailoni
Ann and William Baker
Anna Balakrishnan
Kathryn Balk
Susan and Gary Balling
Brian Balok
Jane Barker and Melinda Haag
John and Vivien Barkidjija
Colleen Barkley
Jackie and Charlie Barlow
David and Kathi Baron
Dina Barron
Larry and Pat Beaudry
Harley Beck
Grace Behrendes
Suzanne Bell and Josh Warren
Paula and Paul Berg
Berwyn Masonic Lodge 839
AF and AM
Lisa Bierman and Todd Kuiken
Jeffrey and Sue Ellen Blaine
Marc and Doris Blesoff
Sonja Blomster
William and Shelby Boblick
Gagliardo Realty Co., Inc. and
Andy Gagliardo
Jane and Joseph Gallo
John and Carol Gasa
Carol Gates
Louise and James Gates
Connie Geocaris and Mark Frank
Adam Gill
Lisa and Frederick Gillis
Lisa Ginet and Robert Spatz
Karen and Robert Glass
Peter Glawe
Marjorie Gockel
Joseph Graber
Joyce Ford Gradel
David and Marcia Green
Joyce and Timothy Greening
Nancy Greer
Bill and Pam Grimes
Lisa and John Grimes
Susan and Herbert Grotewold
Linda and Roger Gusloff
Jacky Hackett
Torrence and Lisa Hammond
Laura Hardwicke
Kathie Hearlston
Tim Heilenbach
Ralph and Marilyn Heinrichs
Denise Henderson
John and Patricia Henek
Sharon Hermanns and
Sumner Farren
Robert and Dorothy Hetzel
Ellen Hickey
Jennifer Hoke
Gail Holmberg and Henri Gillet
Thomas and Nancy Holmes
Holmes School
Christopher Hood
Margaret Horstman
Laurie and Werner Huget
Stephen and Judy Humowiecki
Ruth Anne Huston and
David Feldman
Bill and Heather Ipema
Rasha Iron
Denise and Ralph Jacob
Patricia and Fred Jacobs
Mary James
Darby Jameson
Jakeel and Betty Johnson
Glover and Diane Johnson
Marilyn Johnson
Natasha and Adam Kallish
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Alumnae Association
Mark Kelty
John Kennedy and Steve Wood
Gail Kennedy
Martha Kester
Elizabeth and Christopher Keys
Sarah and Scott Kilburg
Kathryn Klassman
Susan and Ed Klinger
Roberta and Dennis Kmiec
Linda Knutson
Mary Kocarnik
Corinne Kodama
Paul and Patricia Connery Koko
Cindy Kosydor
Laura and Rob Kozloff
Henry Kranz and Diane Stephenson
Annette Lamaire
Claire Lareau
BJ Lau
Michael Leonard and
Monica Sullivan
Joseph and Susan Letendre
Sue Leurgans and Cosmas Zachos
Abraham and Larissa Levitan
Hilarie Lieb
Meg Liebreich
Ramon Ligot
Theresa and Frank Lipo
Elizabeth and Alexander Lippitt
Larry and Rita Lipps
Cheryl Lipton and Rob Palley
Susanne Lodgen
Philip Lofgren and Lousanne
Halverson Lofgren
Lillian Longinow
Lisandra Reynoso
Bill Riordan
River Forest United Methodist Church
Caryn Robin
Harriette and McLouis Robinet
Gary Robinson and Michelle Suarez
Jenny and David Roen
Joan Rogers
Joshua and Nancy Rolock
Barbara Rose
Tanja Saarinen and Chris Chulos
Josephine Sarvis
Charles and Jenifer Saville
Patrick Scanlan
Schacht Survivors Trust
Alison Schoen
Steven Scholl
Ann and James Schroeder
Karen Schwartz
Carolyn Schwartz
Jan Sebastian
Patrick Shannon
Tom Sheehan
Ron Sherman
Betsy Shiner and Gail Bieschke
Kenneth and Jill Shiner
Peter and Dorothy Sievert
Sally Simmel
Florence Sims
David and Orly Slobodkin
Patricia Slovak
Georgia Smith
P. and Vivian Soderdahl
Edward and Linda Solan
Donna Solomon and Brad Ginn
Brian Spicka
Mary Spyropoulos and Jeff Stocker
St. Mary School of Riverside
Matt Staadt
Kristen Stafford
Donald and Mary Stapleton
State Farm Insurance and
Terry Lemley
Jeffrey and Karen Stelmach
Larry and Susan Stephens
Michele and Peter Stern
Meghan and Doug Strubel
Jeanne Sullivan
Leela Sullivan
David Sullivan II
Tim Sutton
Kenneth Taylor
Randy Temple
Ernest Tiemann
Merle and Donald Tillery
Mark Tomassini
Paula and Andrew Tousignant
Trinity Christian College
Matt and Nancy Tushman
United Methodist Women
Unity Church of Oak Park
Katrina and Richard Vigsnes
Jane and John Vishneski
Gordon Waldron
M.J. Walsh
Katie Wasson
Barbara and Charles Watkins
Reg Weaver
Cary Webb
William Weigel
Cynthia Woods Weinand
Susan Weiss
Well Adjusted World
Suzanne and Charles Wells
David and Barbara Westerman
Lawrence and Maureen Wilkinson
Joanne Williams
Gregory and Dina Wingfield
James and Lyn Winikates
Keli Wojciechowski
Martha Woods
Valerie Woods
Christine Worley and Peter Hood
Karen Yarbrough
Zambonies and Ann Marie Swatos
Susan and John Zaruba
Elizabeth Ziehl
Leo and Claudia Zinanni
Martha Zuehlke
Jelena and Sadie Collins
Kristen Comm
Margaret Condor
Marsda and Roger Conner
Robert Conrardy
Natalie and Sean Conway
Tim and Sarah Cooke
Marsha and Ralph Cooper
Gwendolyn Corrie
Alison and Louis Corsino
Ave and Dino Costa
Curtis Cruver III
Ana Cruz
Cub Scout Pack 39
Tracey and Edward Cymbal
Mary Alice Dacosse
Shelby Dagis
Mark Daniels
Nancy and Dennis Dassoff
Janice Davidson
Valerie Davis
Judith Davy and Stephen Kovats
Randi and John Dawson
Lyle and Judith Kay De Garmo
Amy Anderson De Jong
Richard and Camille Deptuch
Mary Lynn Dietsche
Barbara Dobrowolski
Barbara and Michael Dolan
James and Catherine Dolan
Dominican University
Joy Donahue
Joyce and Daniel Dore
Ina Dorsey
Jo-Ellyn Dorsey Swanson
Dr. Bruce Dresner
Donna Drinan and
Thomas Underwood
Nora Duncan
Brunella Notarmarco Dutton
Michael Duwe and Kristine Konrad
Michelle Dybal and William Kosik
Roberta Eastman
Mercedes and Charles Eitz
John and Sheila Elliott
Vickie Engelhardt and
Franklyn Hayes
Mildred Erhardt
Judith Erickson
Pelumi Erinolu
Peggy Etotty
Donald Evans and Margaret Flynn
Jennifer Evans and William Jones
Melissa Farruggia
Feevha Athletic Org. and Kathy
Johnson
Madeline Fera
Anne Ferri
Debra and John Figel
Joan and Paul Filbin
First United Wednesday
Bible Study Group
Michael and Karen Fischer
Gail Fisher and Eric Gyllenhaal
Lua and G. David Fisher
Helen and Michael Fleisher
Richard Flesher
Brendan and Jean Marie Foley
Melissa and Brian Ford
Garnett Foster
Richard Fredrickson and
Elinor Chapman
Laurie Freeman
Cathy Fregeau
Louise Freitag
Eric Friedman and Jenny Austin
Sylvia Fromme
Funquilts Inc.
Bridget and Anthony Fusco
Diana Gadek
Kathleen Gallo
Margaret Gardner
Franklyn and Olive Gautier
Gail Gehrig and Jacob Spitz
Jennifer Geminn
Nancy Gerich and Laura Corbett
Ashley Gerin and
Cherise Partipilo-Gerin
Elizabeth and Harry Gieschen
Sheri Gilley
Glasser Preschool
Lois Jean Komai-Thompson and
Ernie Thompson
Karen and William Komala
Stan and Sandy Kovak
David and Mary Jo Kuhr
Clare Kuntz
Dawn Kupperschmidt and
Kurt Bryning
Constance Laadt
Elizabeth Labbe
Donna Lambert
Carol Landow and Marjorie Flatt
Roberta and Shaun Lane
Mary Langman
Elisa Lapine
Jane Lare
Deborah and George Lawler
John and Nancy Leavy
Madonna Leen
Kathryn Lemanski
Angela Lengerich
Rita Leonhardt and Andrew Seaks
Alexandra Levit and
Stewart Shankman
Michael and Roslyn Lieb
Ed Liss
Janet Lorch and Kathryn Oldach
Susan Lord
Megan and Tarick Loutfi
Jenny Luebbe
Erica Lundsten
Margaret and George Lyons
Michael Macoun
Dave Madsen and Amber Shaner
Cynthia and Bruce Manion
Everlean Manning
Deidre Manning
Anthony Marine
Barbara Marine
Charlotte and A.J. Marks
Eleanor and Candido Marquez
John Martin and Joanne Georgulis
Brenda and Bruce Matson
Dave and Meghan Matz
Cynthia and Ronald Maziarka
Brian McCann
Tiffany McCarty
Leah Mccluskey
McCollom Realty, LTD and
Terry McCollom
McDermott Appraisals
Boyd and Bonnie McDowell
and Boyd McDowell
Richard and Margaret McKinlay
Kenton McMillen
Ramona and James McNeese
Patricia Meadors
Lauri and Keith Meier
Hellen Mellman
Gysbert and Sylvia Menninga
Mary-Anne Meyer and Janet Larson
Pamela and Jan Michaels
Teri Miller
Ruth Milstein
Phyllis Mitzen
Maureen Mizwicki
Katey Mokelke
Mary Moran
Gina and Daniel Moran
Phil and Shirley Morley
Carol Morrison and Randall Mitchell
Margaret and Charles Morscheck
Mary Jo and Laurence Msall
Ralph and Sally Muehleisen
Richard and Laverne Murphy
Roselen and Strother Murphy
Patricia Nania and Noelle Sokolowski
Susie and Steven Narkis
Carl and Julie Nauert
Teresa and Thomas Naughton
Richard and Ellen Nelson
Stacey Nevara and Laura Adden
J. and P. Newberry
Elizabeth Newman
Nancy and Robert Nicholas
Cheryl Nieslawski
Patricia Nix-Hodes and Mark Hodes
June Noonan
Oak Park River Forest Supper Club
Kathy Oba
Mary O’Brien
St. Luke’s Religous Ed Class
Richard and Kristina St. Pierre
St. Vincent Ferrar School
Sharon and Kurt Stadtwald
Eileen and Thomas Stanton
Joy and Joseph Stastny
James and Louise Stevens
Liz and Matt Stolfa
Linda Stolt
Joan Stone
Katelijne Street
Michael and Irene Sullivan
Elizabeth Summy
Alfred and Irmgard Swanson
Ken Swanson
Natalie Swindal
Bob and Mary Swindal
Romulo Tamondong and Deborah
Tamondong
Melissa and David Taub
Diane Taylor
David and Hilarie Terebessy
Lisa Terrazas
Jerome and Rebecca Tharaud
Marilyn Bayne Thomas
Lois and Carmen Tosto
Total Capacity Services LLC
Dawn Traub
Russell Trenary
Robert Tucker
Tina Tullberg
Jami and James Turano
Marion Turner
Union Park Lodge No. 610
United Methodist Women
Holly Utter
Patricia Vanbuskirk
Alice Vandersteen
Micheal Vassolo and Elizabeth Macik
Bob and Joan Vering
Kavita Vermani
Donald and Mary Vogel
Ricky and Helen Vogel
Hannah Voigt
Karl and Laurie Volz
John and Lucinda Vriner
Nan and Robert Walicki
Linda Walker
James H. and Polly J. Walwark
Sloan and Thomas Watson
Doug Watt and Eleanor Long
Marc and Judy Weiss
Racquel and Christian Wells
Christine Welsh
Stephen Welter
Michelene and Thomas Wendorf
Yvette Wesley
West Suburban Temple Har Zion
Sam Whalen and Amparo Castillo
Alvoyd Whitaker
Anita White
Sandra Wiatr
Rebeccah and David Willard
Paul Winston
Tom and Michelle Wolford
Gisele and Robert Worley
Kathleen Wrobel
Tracy and Michael Wysockey
Robert Yeager
Era Yee
Iris and Victor Yipp
Carol and Charles Young
Lisa Young
Mary Kay Zima
Vic Zitzer
Herb and Claudette Zobel
*deceased
HONOR ROLL of Volunteers
for Fiscal Year 2012.
Over 400 Hours
Barb Weakly
Warren Udelson
Claudia Zinanni
300-399 hours
25-49 hours
Anne Johnson
Denise Jones
Donald (Don) Jones
Gabriel (Gabe) Kahn
Therese Kane
Jan Kang
Zohreh Kiaeipour
Leroy Klink
Christine Knox
Inge Krogh
Mary Lampson
George Lane
Katie Larson
Susan Larson
Jamie Lass
Vicky Lekovish
Dawn Lustig
Philip McAndrew
Judith McDevitt
Joe McKitrick
Emily Meszaros
Danielle Miller
Mike Mizen
Jack Monaghan
Brian Montgomery
Claudia Munoz
Veronica Munoz
Rasha Myers
Maureen Newman
Evan O’Brien
Margie O’Malley
Nia Payton
Derald (DJ) Phillips
James PItts
Eddie Rodriguez
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Ramsis Rodriguez
Maira Roman
Kris Ronnow
Barbara Rose
Lisa Ruhland
Laurel Saltzman
Wesley Sapp
Donata Sapp
Nikki Schneider
Phil Schoenthal
Thom Schouten
Sarah Sears
Orly Slobodkin
Karen Stelmach
Madeline Stupinski
Joseph Tabet
Cathy Taiwo
Katrina Vigsnes
Phyllis Voosen
Pam Walsh
Mary L Watkins
Mary Jane Welter
Karen Wenzlaff
Nicole Whelan
Valerie Woods
Alicia Accardo
Paul Aeschleman
200-299 hours
Karen Alanis
Greg Battoglia
Eric Anderson
Belinda Bremner
Linda Bachelder
Bobbie (Barbara) Hald
Jeannine Baldwin
Charles Lake
Jean Barbato
Sue Beckman
100-199 hours
Bill Beneventi
Veronika Burmeister
Kathryn Bobka
Bonnie Chauncey
Kate Boulay
Jake Dickens
David Bradley
James (Jim) Dolan
Russell Brown
Vera Dowell
Matthew Brown
Jayne Doyle
Louise Bruynseels
Ray Faghih
Laurie Bunkers
Willie Mae Harris
Nancy Burgoyne
Peter Jaffe-Notier
Sue Campbell
Daniel Keys
Cleraine Camper
Judith (Judy) Longman
Tracy Cardin
Jackie Modahl
Daniel (Danny) Castaneda
David Moline
Laura Christman
Barbara Moline
Kristine (Kris) Cihlar
Kristen Ras
Paul Ciolek
Matthew Udelson
Matt Clark
Gloria Walker
Sue Cossey
Donna Culver
50-99 hours
Cheryl Curry
Elizabeth Backes
Maria Delis
KC Ballard
Avelina Diaz-Acevedo
Jane Barker
Becky Doar
Priscilla Bell
Cathy Duke
Eric Caine
Judi Dziwak
Terri Carlton
Iris Erazo
John Conmy
Judy Erickson
Judy Drain
Indalia Esparza
Vickie Engelhardt
Clady (Grace) Farkaschek Andrea Espinosa
Charles Foster
Connie Geocaris
Jeanne Gallo
Bill Grady
Evelyn Gates
Brian Hale
Betty Gehring
Barb Hickey
Barbara Greenup
Sean Jackson
Monty Gregor
Kathi Kyrias
Drew Gresik
Barb Langer
Erik Guevara
Marot Lorimer
Carrie Hageman
Karen Mansfield
Tamika Hall
Janet McEnaney
Brian Hameister
Leroy Meade
Judith Hamje
Lucila Medina
Irene Hansen
Ron Moline
Nora Harris
Maria Monahan
Jessica Hoekstra
Marjorie Morningstar
Annika Holkeboer
James (JK) Morrison
Reginald (Reggie) Osborne Mitchell Horn
Emily Horrocks
Kim Rodriguez
Olivia Horrocks
Ricardo Serrano
Tao Huang
Tamara Sinclair
Shaun Husain
Pat Slovak
Kathy Hymson
Darlene Smith
Joan Iatrides
Kristi St Martin
Bill Janulis
Audrey Todd
Many other volunteers gave of their time, but space limits us from listing everyone.
We are grateful to all those who gave an hour or 400 hours.
Gale Zemel
our volunteers
Volunteers, clients learn
to be advocates
Raising awareness about hunger’s impact and
making our collective voices heard is vital to the
Pantry’s mission.
“Last year was a very active year for advocacy,
and that will continue to be the case,” said Pantry
Executive Director Michele Zurakowski.
The Board of Directors laid the groundwork by
naming a four-member, non-partisan Advocacy
Committee, which met for the first time in
September. In preparation, volunteer committee
member Kristen JS Ras participated in advocacy
training at the Greater Chicago Food Depository
(GCFD), which serves about 400 Cook County
food pantries.
Ras, a religion teacher at St. Francis High School in
Wheaton, started volunteering at the Pantry three
years ago after moving to Oak Park. “It became
something much more than volunteering,” she says.
“Just to contribute a little bit, you feel as if this is
going make such a difference in somebody’s life.”
Her empathy comes from experience. She recalls
struggling financially while working a minimum
wage job and attending Bradley University in
Peoria, Ill. When she ran short of cash before her
paycheck, she lived on a daily bowl of cereal. “The
church knew I was struggling, and they would call
me and say, “We just got some food.”
Her GCFD advocacy training helped her think
about questions such as, “How are we going to get
funds into the right places?” and “What is it we
need to bring attention to as a pantry?” she says.
A first step in
engaging clients
is a sign in the
kristen Ras volunteering
waiting area on
at a food distribution.
Photo courtesy Matt Kosterman.
distribution days
asking clients to write how hunger affects them.
“We want to be able to use those words and
experiences as well as facts and figures” in raising
hunger awareness, Ras said. “We will be finding
ways clients can work together (with volunteers).
It’s not us helping them. This is our community.
These are our neighbors.”
A major issue is funding for SNAP (Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program), or food stamps,
tabled since the so-called Farm Bill expired
September 30. Eighty percent of the bill’s
approximate $400 billion funding goes for
food and nutrition programs. A U.S. House of
Representatives Agriculture Committee version
would cut $16.5 billion over 10 years, while a U.S.
Senate version would cut $4.5 billion. SNAP, one
of the most important strands in the nation’s safety
net, lifts 3.9 million people, including 1.7 million
children, above the poverty level, according to
U.S. Census Bureau data.
“We will be finding ways clients can work
together (with volunteers).
It’s not us helping them.
This is our community.
These are our neighbors.”
f
Volunteers are the backbone of the Pantry.
financial report
92% of revenues
support Pantry programs
With sky-rocketing food costs and dramatically reduced support from federal food
commodities, the Pantry set a fiscal goal to build a reserve of three to six months
operating expenses. We are now well on our way to meeting that goal. Volunteers are
essential to keeping our expenses focused on programming. Volunteers donated 17,624
hours of labor worth $153,000.
Oak Park & River Forest Food Pantry Financials as of June 30, 2012.
Statement of Financial Position
Statement of Activities
Assets
Revenues and Other Support
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Prepaid insurance
$258,275.00
$1,632.00
32
$4,808.00
Property and equipment
$17,260.00
Food credit receivable
$14,611.00
Total Assets
Contributions - individuals (32%)
1
Contributions - congregations (4%)
$42,316.00
Contributions - businesses (4%)
$50,149.00
Grants - foundations & organizations (6%) $65,229.00
52
GCFD credits (1%)
$296,586.00
Liabilities
1 6
4
4
In-kind food & supplies (52%)
Interest income
Accounts payable
$5,968.00
Other (1%)
Accrued payroll
$5,480.00
Total Revenues and Support
Total Liabilities
$11,448.00
Net Assets
Temporarily restricted
Unrestricted
$7,521.00
$359,892.00
$13,367.00
$584,905.00
$218.00
$10,250.00
$1,126,326.00
Expenses
Program services (92%)
5 3
$277,617.00
$912,220.00
Management and general (3%)
$29,598.00
Fund raising (5%)
$52,832.00
Total Net Assets
$285,138.00
Total Expenses
$994,650.00
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$296,586.00
Change in Net Assets
$131,676.00
Net Assets
92
92% of all revenues support Oak Park Food Pantry programs.
Beginning of year
$145,941.00
End of year
$277,617.00
Sassetti Certified Public Accountants.
To request a copy of our independent auditor’s report,
please contact our finance specialist: [email protected] “
NEWS FROM OAk PARk RIVER FOREST FOOD PANTRy • www.oprffoodpantry.org
PantryPulse
Oak Park River Forest Food
Pantry’s mission is to work
together with the community to
reduce hunger locally through:
• direct hunger relief services
• hunger awareness education
and
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry
848 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL 60301
Joy heard about the Pantry on a bus, and has come here several times.
“Here they help you as you need,” she says. “Maybe you need assistance
for a week, maybe longer. They help with whatever you need.” She
agrees that the volunteers are one of the Pantry’s best features. “They
work hard, try hard, and really make an effort for us.”
• advocacy to influence
anti-hunger policy.
Several seats over in the waiting area, Don passes the time with James.
Don is a senior who lives in Oak Park and doesn’t remember exactly
how he found the Pantry, but says he is grateful for the services the
Pantry offers in partnership with the Walk-In Ministry. “They can help
in so many ways here, with clothes and food, and help you get an I.D.”
James, a construction worker disabled in an accident, can no longer
manage the physical demands of his old job. “It’s a sad thing to be
banged up. My mind says yes, but my body says no.” Like his friend
Don, he finds a welcome here and enjoys talking with the volunteers.
Inside you will find our
Fiscal Year 2012
Annual Report.
Hunger has many faces, as any
volunteer at the Pantry can tell you.
We see them twice each week,
streaming into our doors in record
numbers, usually waiting patiently
to shop our shelves. Some, like A client enjoys a food sample from the Nutrition
Education table while waiting to shop.
Dorothy, are shopping for three
Photo courtesy of Dawn Altman
generations; her grandson drove
her to the Pantry, and his children waited at home to see what she will
bring. “I love it here,” she says. “It’s beautiful. It’s the people here. They
are so friendly, like Jamaicans.”
Please read how your
generous support
enables and inspires
our work.
our clients
Serving our neighbors
How to help feed your community
www.oprffoodpantry.org
DONATE
VOLUNTEER
EDUCATE
help us
Nonprofit Organization
US Postage Paid
Permit #98
Oak Park IL
Printed on recycled paper.
PLAN AN EVENT
Write a check or use PayPal on our website.
Click the “Sign Up to Volunteer” button
on our website.
Organize a food drive for your birthday party,
block party, congregation or child’s school.
Email [email protected] to coordinate a
presentation by Pantry staff for your
congregation, club, workplace or child’s school.