DUPAGE COUNTY SUPPORTING FOOD PANTRY PROGRAMS
The DuPage County Board is allocating $4.8 million in surplus funds from the fiscal year 2025 budget to help address food insecurity.
Board members approved $2.5 million for Loaves & Fishes Community Services to expand the agency’s Aurora Food Distribution Hub; $2 million to Northern Illinois Food Bank to provide fresh produce and other essentials to local food pantries; and $322,000 to The Conservation Foundation in Naperville to expand its Farm to Pantry Program.
Funds donated to the Loaves & Fishes project will go towards their $8 million expansion project. The nonprofit plans to increase its food distribution facility from 30,000 square feet to 62,000 square feet, nearly quadruple their cold storage capacity and nearly double the number of clients they serve, a county news release said.
Money for the Northern Illinois Food Band will be used over two years to provide food, including fresh produce, to local pantries, the release said.
The Conservation Foundation’s grant will provide about 22,000 pounds of food through their Farm to Pantry Program over two years, the release said. Additional funds will be used to buy a refrigerated truck and build a new greenhouse.
GARDEN CLUB ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
The Naperville Garden Club is offering college scholarships to students pursuing studies in horticulture, conservation and environmental sciences.
Applications are due April 1, and winners will be notified by May 1.
The scholarship program helps graduating high school seniors and college students in the Naperville area. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Preferences is given to students who live within the boundaries of Naperville School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204.
Scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, career commitment, extracurricular involvement and financial need, a club news release said.
They may be renewable yearly if recipients reapply and meet the criteria. To apply, go to www.napervillegardenclub.org.
DUPAGE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT SEEKING DIRECTOR
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is looking for its next executive director after Karie Friling announced she will be leaving in May to become the city manager for Sarasota, Florida.
Friling has been the district’s executive director since March 2021 and will be helping with the leadership transition, a district news release said.
During her tenure, the district worked on several major initiatives focusing on conservation, restoration and connecting visitors to the forest preserves, the release said.
The executive director serves as the district’s chief administrative officer and is responsible for staff management, financial oversight, commissioner relations, and community and volunteer engagement. Applications for the job will be accepted online through April 17.
NEW WAY TO REPORT PARK MAINTENANCE ISSUES
Naperville Park District has implemented “Maintenance Matters,” a new online portal through which residents can report issues found at district parks and facilities.
Replacing the former 311 Parks system, the new portal allows residents to report problems anonymously if they prefer and to create a free account to track the progress of their requests, a district news release said. A GPS tagging feature gives user the option of tagging the precise location of the issue in question.
Park users can report issues such as graffiti or vandalism, damaged playground equipment, damaged or downed tree branches, overgrown vegetation and more.
All requests submitted are assigned a ticket number so they can be tracked and real-time updates are posted so residents can stay informed on the status of requests, the release said.
To access the portal, go to www.napervilleparks.org/maintenancematters.
For non-maintenance related concerns, call 630-848-5000 or email info@napervilleparks.org. For non-emergency enforcement issues, call 630-601-0925.
