Centro de Informacion - Emergency Food Pantry

It serves principally the needy Hispanic population with special attention given to food that Hispanics eat on a daily basis. In 1999 Centro opened the emergency food pantry as part of its outreach efforts to help meet a need in the Hispanic community. The population is especially vulnerable because many times immigrants speak little English, and have substantially less income and education than the population at large, leaving them more likely to live in poverty. The emergency food pantry needs a constant flow of food donations in order to meet the needs of the community. Centro has developed a supportive network of corporate, church, and community resources and volunteers. Most of the people who come for food are adult Hispanic females with small children. The 2010 census puts the Hispanic population of Elgin at 43%, Carpentersville at 50%, and Hanover Park at 38%. Centro has offices in all three communities, and the need for food is evident. Food is distributed by Centro on a daily basis. Approximately 2000 families use the emergency food pantry per year, and the food they receive feeds more than 8,000 (including family members).