Each year, the Pantry benefits from fundraisers and food drives held by service organizations, local businesses, school districts and individuals in the community. Following are some of the annual events:

• Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger®  food drive

• Putt for the Pantry

• Maine West High School Warrior Garden

• Forest School Area Turkey Trot

• St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church food drive

• Jewel/Osco Turkey Dinner and Ham Dinner food drives

• Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry Food Fight  

• Spouses Selling Houses Team Pi(e) Day    

Thank you to all of our supporters - we couldn't do this without you!

Directly from the Director

Winter 2025

The dictionary defines gratitude as "the state of being grateful." Recently, we were fortunate to connect with a local nonprofit whose mission is to inspire gratitude in future generations through education and service. Their December service project gifted us with 25 birthday boxes for children of our client families, and there's no doubt those children will be grateful. The Pantry had many other reasons to be grateful during the recent holdiday season:

• Receiving greeting cards with uplifting messages from donors and clients alike

• Turkey trots

• Des Plaines Jewel shoppers whose donations bought boxed holiday dinners for our clients

• Donations of new toys and games

• Warm winter clothing

• Red barrels filled to overflowing at local businesses, schools, churches and holiday events

Practicing gratitude during the holiday season when giving is in full swing comes naturally, but our community offers us many reasons to be grateful the entire year. On behalf of those we serve, all of us at the Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines express our heartfelt gratitude. Thank you!!

Debra Walusiak, Executive Director