St. Cletus food pantry seeing greater need in La Grange
Volunteers distribute Thanksgiving meals to 300 households in need at the St. Cletus Food Pantry in La Grange on Nov. 22, 2025. Meals included turkey or chicken and all the traditional Thanksgiving fixings. The pantry serves seniors and those on fixed budgets, working families and immigrants. It has seen an increase in need this year. Over the past three years, the parish’s Social Concerns Ministry has significantly expanded its fundraising efforts, allowing it to triple the amount of direct financial assistance offered to parishioners and neighbors in need. In 2023, the parish distributed $35,000 in support, and this year that number has surpassed $100,000. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Holly Lavorato and Maureen Soldat sign in volunteers. Volunteers distribute Thanksgiving meals to 300 households in need at the St. Cletus Food Pantry in La Grange on Nov. 22, 2025. Meals included turkey or chicken and all the traditional Thanksgiving fixings. The pantry serves seniors and those on fixed budgets, working families and immigrants. It has seen an increase in need this year. Over the past three years, the parish’s Social Concerns Ministry has significantly expanded its fundraising efforts, allowing it to triple the amount of direct financial assistance offered to parishioners and neighbors in need. In 2023, the parish distributed $35,000 in support, and this year that number has surpassed $100,000. ((Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Colin O’Brien assists a guest with a choice of a turkey or chicken. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Henry Robinson sorts through the freezer for goods to be distributed. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Jacob Odelson waits to help someone with a cart. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Rich Boland and Jacquie Odelson sort through bags for visitors. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Kendall Grant from the parish social concerns ministry helps a guest with information. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Elmer Romero, pastor, visits with Holly Lavorato and Maureen Soldat as Kendall Grant gives him an update on how things were going. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
