history.
The Tinley Park Food Pantry was started in 1982 by Stan Slack in the United Methodist Church with the purpose of assisting poverty level families who reside in Tinley Park and Orland Hills via a weekly distribution of food that has occurred every Wednesday since the TPFP's inception.
Shortly after its inception the TPFP became a member of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. As a result, we are provided with food and other items twice a month from this source; thereby we have available for our clients U.S. Government Food and food from F.E.M.A.
With this source we are also able to direct applicants who do not reside in our area to pantries serving their residential area.
Stan retired from the Pantry in November of 2000 at the age of 81 after 18 years
of service.
Rev. Jim Young from the United Methodist Church took over as President upon
Stan’s retirement.
In January of 2001 the Pantry lost it’s warehouse in the storefront in Park Center Plaza after 5 years and relocated to the basement of Zion Lutheran Church where it remains today.
In 2004 Chuck Okresik, a long time volunteer with the pantry, took over as President from
Rev. Jim Young.
In the Summer of 2009 Jim Fuentes started “The Mainstreet Victory Garden” with the produce that was grown going to the Tinley Park Food Pantry.
In the Summer of 2009 Jim Fuentes started “The Mainstreet Victory Garden” with the produce that was grown going to the Tinley Park Food Pantry.
In September of 2022 Chuck Okresik retired from the pantry at the age of 80 after 30 years with the TPFP. 18 of those were as president.
Ed Pluchar, a volunteer with the pantry, took over as President following
Chuck's retirement.
Clients were originally allowed to come into the pantry and select the items they wanted, but with the advent of COVID the process was changed slightly, clients now select their food from a multi-language menu and the food is picked and packed by volunteers.
Currently serving 45-50 families (160-170 people per week)- Currently serving Brementowne Manor (Senior retirement community) once a month (20-25people)
The Pantry is incorporated and is registered with the U.S. Department of Revenue under Code 501©.
Our contributors are the many churches in Tinley Park, area businesses, local organizations,
and private individuals.
The entire staff of the TPFP are volunteers.
