Maine Township Residents Overwhelmingly Approve New Food Pantry at Annual Town Meeting
The historic vote of the Township’s residents gives Supervisor Jones and the Township Board the right to enter into an agreement to purchase the property at 9850 Milwaukee Ave in Glenview for the purposes of moving the Maine Township Food Pantry
The Maine Township Board of Trustees held its 2026 Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 14th at Township Hall in front of over 100 residents in attendance.
Des Plaines City Clerk, Dominik Bronakowski was nominated as this year’s ceremonial Moderator for the event.
A key moment took place early on when Supervisor Jones presented an agenda item to authorize the Township to purchase the building at 9850 Milwaukee Ave in Glenview for the purposes of moving the Maine Township Food Pantry to a much larger footprint within the Township to accommodate both the extreme need and clear success the pantry has seen the last several years. The residents at the meeting overwhelmingly supported the measure when called for a vote.
Supervisor Jones, who gave an impassioned plea in support of the effort to expand the Food Pantry had the following to say about the monumental vote: “That magical moment really encapsulated the strong support system that’s been built from ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ throughout our community. The Food Pantry has grown in leaps and bounds throughout the last five years thanks to the dedicated work of its staff, volunteers and the public. The pantry has simply outgrown its current location in our basement and now requires a building that can sustain the many donations and space needed to serve the community,” Jones concluded.
The Annual Town Meeting also provided a chance for Supervisor Kimberly Jones to highlight the great work that the Township does to serve residents through the many departments and their leaders. Assessor Susan Moylan-Krey and MaineStay Youth and Family Services Director Richard Lyon were recognized for their 20 years of service to Maine Township. Assistant Director of MaineStreamers, Therese Tully was recognized for her 25 years of service.
The meeting was capped off with former Des Plaines Self-Help Closet and Pantry Director, Debbie Walusiak receiving the Sgt. Karen Lader Good Citizen Award for her 20 + years of service to the Des Plaines community. “Debbie is an exceptional community leader and volunteer,” Clerk Gialamas, who’s office runs the annual award program said. “Her work with the Des Plaines community, particularly her leadership navigating the Self-Help Closet and Pantry’s 2020 move to larger location in the midst of the pandemic really shows the depth and resolve of that leadership and dedication to service,” Gialamas said.
In 2011, The Maine Township Clerk’s office proudly instituted the award in honor of Lader, a resident of Des Plaines and a 15-year veteran of the Cook County Sheriff’s Police who lost her courageous battle with cancer in 2010. Deeply involved with Maine Township residents especially in the Neighborhood Watch Program, she was also active in the successful National Night Out Against Crime event held each August. She also worked on Special Olympics and animal rescue.
The next Annual Town Meeting is set for April 13, 2027 at Maine Township Hall.
