OVER THE NEXT 100 DAYS WITH A GOAL OF $100,000
Naperville Residents Nick and Teresa Ryan issue West Suburban Food Pantry Matching Fund Challenge
The devastating economic affect that COVID-19 has had on many west suburban Chicago families continues, according to the West Suburban Community Pantry, located in Woodridge and serving DuPage and Will County communities. Prior to the pandemic the majority of clients served by the Pantry were working families. In the past year the numbers have grown substantially. Many lost incomes due to layoffs, health concerns, lack of childcare and the challenges of remote learning, family illness and loss. These families have had to choose between feeding their family or paying for housing, utilities, medical care, and prescriptions.
As we all seek to recover, Nick Ryan and Teresa Ryan of Naperville have issued a matching fund challenge to help individuals with a hand up during this challenging time. Over the next 100 days, the Ryans will match 50% of every gift made to the Pantry with the goal of $100,000.
“The Hand Up Fund is designed to help people get back on their feet and relieve some of the stress that comes from not being able to properly feed their children,” says Nick Ryan. “Teresa and I are pleased to be able to offer clients not a handout, but a hand up. Providing people with food can help them afford the shelter, healthcare and childcare they need to re-enter the workforce.”
Teresa Ryan adds “Our community has faced an unprecedented challenge, and we are hoping the community will join us to be part of the solution. We appreciate that the Pantry is partnering with a variety of other agencies to help clients get the life skills and job-readiness training they need for self-sufficiency.”
Nick Ryan is President and CEO of Marquette Companies in Naperville, and Teresa Ryan is head of the Ryan Hill Group of Century 21 Affiliated realtors, also in Naperville. West Suburban Community Pantry serves individuals, families, children, and seniors throughout DuPage County including Woodridge, Lisle, Naperville, Westmont and Willowbrook as well as portions of Will County including Bolingbrook and Romeoville.
The Pantry offers Pantry Store shopping hours in their Woodridge facility, curbside pickup of pre-packed fresh foods and staples, as well as online ordering through their Virtual Food Pantry with pickup in Woodridge and eight remote locations and delivery to seniors. West Suburban also has an in-school Pantry at B.J. Ward Elementary School in Romeoville. To donate to West Suburban Community Pantry and be matched by the Ryans, or find out more, visit wscpantry.org/the-hand-up-fund/
