Monee’s Provision Market will open its free food pantry at 5430 W. Main Street on February 7.
According to Second Place Church Pastor David Short, the 960-square-foot pantry will be open weekly on Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Short said there are no income or residency requirements, but participants will need to register with the Northern Illinois Food Bank Link2Feed program. To register people need to go to nfib.link2feed.com.
There will be limits on the amount of food a client may have per visit, but it will vary from week-to-week. The facility will offer client-choice shopping, rather than pre-selected, boxed items.
Fresh produce, meat, non-perishables, and personal care products will be available.
“We will add items as we determine,” he said.
Food and supplies will be provided by a variety of sources, including the Northern Illinois Food Bank. (Northern Illinois Food Bank is an independent, non-governmental organization. Information provided by those registering is protected and may only be shared in rare and specific cases. To read the full Link2Feed Consent and Disclaimer form, go to nifb.link2feed.com.)
Provision Market expects to serve 64 – 96 families total in one market day, depending on the flow and whether families take extra time.
Volunteers will be on hand to assist clients. Darneice Cooper will serve as administrator of the market, with sponsor Provision Lab, Inc.
A ribbon cutting or ceremony has not been planned for the February 7 opening.
“It has not been determined if we want to do that,” Short said.
“We would like to work with Historia coffee (which will occupy the front of the Main Street building when it is completed) in doing a grand opening but that is a ways down the road.”