Most residents of the
United States take food security, the access to food, without even thinking of
it but there are still plenty of people who wonder where their next meal is
coming from. DuPage County, and especially Naperville where I live, is a
relatively wealthy area but despite the wealth there are residents with low
income or live in food desert that must search out food supplies. Some resources including food
pantry, government assistance, nonprofit, grocery stores and even restaurants
and farms are listed as places to obtain food either via donations or
purchasing. A quick Google search can lead to other similar resources.
A food pantry in
Naperville IL that accepts donations of
food from retailers and the general public to feed those without food or on low
income. Other local pantries: are Feed My Starving Children
https://www.fmsc.org and Northern Illinois Food Bank https://solvehungertoday.org/. There are other pantries
in most towns and cities.
SNAP, commonly known as
food stamps, provides a safety net for the less well off. Different states
manage it differently, but Illinois loads a Link card that can then be used at
grocery and convenience stores to
purchase food. It can provide food security for those with low income.
Non-Profit Resources: http://www.peoplesrc.org/
Based in Wheaton IL this
organization provides not only their own pantry but services with job
assistance, computer training and other resources for those needing their help.
Sometimes finding employment can start a person back on the path to a better
life including food security.
Naperville and DuPage
County as an abundance of grocery stores where residents can purchase groceries
to feed their families. Jewel is one grocery example. Although considered local
they were sold to a national grocery chain. They accepted SNAP.
Two good examples of
vastly different restaurants. Maggiano’s is a local Italian (owned by Lettuce
Entertain You, a national restaurant group) who serve gourmet food. They are
known for their fine pasta and meat dishes.
Burger King are a fast food burger chain famous for the “Whooper” burger.
They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner although the last two are the same menu.
Prices are cheap as they compete with McDonald’s and much of their products are
loaded with fat and salt and upsizing (supersizing) is common.
Farm stands and Farmers
markets operate spring through autumn primarily to sell fresh fruit and vegetables
and other food items right from the local farms. Some farms such as Keller have
their own permanent food “stand” locations while other farms will attend weekly
farmers market at various convenient locations. Most of the fresh product is
likely to be organic having been grown on local smaller farms that are less
likely to use chemicals.
Conclusion
Naperville and DuPage
have plenty of place to obtain food. Most people will go to the local grocery
store such as Jewel but for others food pantries are in most areas and will
provide items for those in need or the government can provide assistant via
SNAP.
(all photos from the various websites)
