The Grafton Food Pantry's been operating out of donated warehouse space on Huntley's Smith Drive for the last three years but now the location's snarled in mortgage problems and the organization needs to move by the end of the year.
Pantry Board President Kathy Schneiter called Moore's proposal "interesting" but dismissed it saying the Township Headquarters are too small. "We currently have 2,100 square feet," she said, "and we're looking for 2,500." Even counting closets and the Clerk's office, the Grafton Offices have less than 1,000 square feet of available floor space.
Everyone agrees then-Supervisor Vern Brunscheon organized the Pantry's precursor as an informal group operating out of the Township headquarters in 1989. Fender denies she's ever been part of the Pantry, even as a volunteer. "I was there as a customer once," she said. "I'm not ashamed of it. This year I've been dropping off vegetables from my garden."
In 2006 the Grafton Township Food Pantry registered with the Secretary of State as a charitable non-profit with a formal Board of Directors headed by then-Supervisor John Rossi. Six months after the 2009 election in which Moore edged Rossi, the Pantry left the Township Offices under circumstances murky even at the time.
After the move, in two instances in 2009 and 2010 FEN's been able to document, Moore or a staffer told potential Pantry donors it didn't exist any more. Early last year Moore set up a competing food pantry operating out of a small room in the Grafton headquarters. Likewise last year, Moore tried to convince Grafton's audit firm the original Pantry still actually belonged to Grafton Township. In a 2009-10 management letter Auditor Paul Thermen eventually concluded it didn't, at least from an accounting standpoint.
Last November Moore had John Nelson, her attorney in the long-running legal battle she's had with the rest of the Grafton Board, send a letter to Rossi, who, unknown to most, had just resigned as Pantry President. FEN filed to obtain a copy of it under the Illinois Freedom of Information act but Moore refused claiming it was exempt from disclosure. FEN's appeal to the Illinois Attorney General on that is now over 9 months old and still unresolved.
Schneiter said the Grafton Township Food Pantry which filed an official DBA as the Grafton Food Pantry this Summer currently serves "about 200 families each month".
In the pic: A Mobile Food Pantry distribution at the Grafton Food Pantry last month.
13 comments:
I thought Linda was happy when she drove the food pantry out of the office on Vine Street. "After the move, in two instances in 2009 and 2010 FEN's been able to document, MOORE or a staffer told potential Pantry donors IT DIDN'T EXIST ANY MORE." Does any need more proof that Linda does not care about others?
"Early last year Moore set up a competing food pantry . . . " Linda is this your idea of a new cable tv program - Food Pantry Wars? Linda, why the manic change of heart?
"Linda, why the manic change of heart?"
I'll take a stab -
Re-branding.
An opportunity to slam one of the other candidates running for office.
Mania.
Why is Linda refusing to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request? Isn't she obligated to respond?
This is so sad. She is in the last 6 months of her total failure of a Supervisor. She wants to do the right thing now? She is holding all types of events in her effort to fool the public. We, the residents of Grafton Township, would trust you?? why? $600K + in legal fees is not going to be forgotten any time soon.
The good news? She is not eligible for unemployment, so the government waste will stop in May 2013.
Again you people miss the real problems. Are you so intent on blaming Linda moore for everything?
Donating vegetables from my garden. How sweet of the village trustee.Does this garden compare to TOMS Farm where much food comes from? I didn't think so. Looks like this trustee is again grasping at staws.
Obviously an empty gesture intended to blow sunshine up the voters giggy. She kicked them out over three years ago, and was intent on keeping the coolers for her own food pantry (remember the FEN picture of the Girl Scouts who donated food?).
Obviously, the Pantry needs more space than Grafton can provide in their current antiquated building. So why make this offer at this time? Campaign season is a good time for rebranding. Someone needs to put something - ANYTHING! - positive on the campaign flyers. Fear has officially set in.
NOPE, not buying into it Linda!
Revisionist history and re-branding, all in one press release! Kudos Mrs. Moore.
http://www.huntleyneighbors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=95867&highlight=pantry
Anonymous Anonymous said...
They should have moved the township out of Huntley when they had the chance. Could have had food pantry, assessor, clerk, supervisor, senior events all under one roof. No renting areas for meetings, no extensive absences for the Supervisor so she can "run" her flagship accomplishment Senior Bingo, no patched together electrical holding vital information. But NO, instead the STRANGLEHOLD of our township continues by a few like Moore and xxxxxxx! Huntley lifers don't speak for me or my $.
Senior Bingo is NOT a Linda accomplishment. That program was started by Grafton Trustee Betty Zirk.
My bad. So Linda has had 0 accomplishments in office! She devotes sooo much time to Bingo, neglecting her duties, I assumed it was her claim to fame.
Sounds like "Lassie, come home!"
Lassie has been screamed at, threatened, kicked, smacked with a rolled up newspaper, then beaten verbally some more. The food pantry, like Lassie, won't be coming home. Can you blame them?
You are sooo gone Linda!!! And Sorry Pam, no more Huntley lifers. Huntley has run Grafton for tooo long!
If Linda "kicked out" the food pantry then why was Fender so worried about going to jail for moving it out?
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