PEOPLE IN THE PHOTO Kate Maehr, GCFD Executive Director, Michele Zurakowski, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry - Director of Operations, Paula Berg, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry - Pantry Manager, Kathy Russell, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry - Executive Director, Pastor Leonardo D. Gilbert, Greater Chicago Food Depository - Chair, Board of Directors. Photo Courtesy of the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry

Provided by Kathy Russell, director of Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry

Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry was notified that it would receive two Greater Chicago Food Depository awards: Client Choice Award 2011 and Quality Performance Award 2011. In addition to the recognition from these awards, each is accompanied by a $500 monetary award.

The Client Choice Award was based on the Pantry’s client choice model, which provides the client with a sense of dignity, prevents waste, and provides greater opportunity for volunteer and client interaction. A single Pantry is recognized with this award.

The Quality Performance Award recognizes food pantries that consistently maintain quality program performance. The food pantry must demonstrate quality performance in five key areas: Clients, Processes, Staff, Volunteers and Financial. The Pantry will hold this designation for 3 years. Impressively enough, they also were awarded the Quality Performance Award in 2008. Several pantries will receive this award.

The award announcements were made during the luncheon at GCFD’s Partner Conference 2011 Growing the Field on May 18.

Join the discussion on social media!