Self Help Closet & Food Pantry

What Self Help Closet & Food Pantry does

Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1971 by the Women's Fellowship Circle of the First Congregational Church of Des Plaines and incorporated independently since 1987. It provides free groceries, seasonal clothing, personal care items, baby supplies, and weekend backpack meals to Des Plaines, Illinois residents and families experiencing food or clothing insecurity. The organization operates three core programs: a monthly food pantry and clothing closet with walk-in and curbside service at 769 Holiday Lane (Tuesdays 12:30-3:00 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30-12:00 p.m.); the Community Backpack Project (CBP), a school-based weekend meal program serving 150+ elementary students in Community Consolidated School District 62; and an annual Masquerade to Unmask Hunger fundraising event. Operations rely on traditional inventory management and volunteer coordination; the organization has no proprietary technology platform, no APIs, and no digital product.

The revenue model is entirely donation-based, as client services are provided free of charge. Funding streams include in-kind donations of food and clothing from individuals and businesses (used to stock inventory), monetary donations accepted via PayPal, checks, cash, gift cards, and postage stamps (used flexibly to purchase perishables such as meat, dairy, and eggs not available in kind), and an annual tiered sponsorship program (Diamond $1,000+, Platinum $500-999, Gold $250-499) with website and print newsletter recognition. Distribution is multi-channel: walk-in pantry, curbside pickup, a Red Barrel (food) and Blue Barrel (CBP) network spanning 50+ businesses and locations around Des Plaines, and weekly backpack delivery through District 62 social workers. Major recurring partners include Rivers Casino, Costco (Niles), Jewel-Osco, Panera Bread, Target, Topco Associates, the University of Illinois Extension SNAP Education program, the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce, and multiple local schools, churches, and civic organizations.

Service demand has expanded sharply, with households served growing from 218 in April 2022 to 750 shortly thereafter and now exceeding 900, alongside 150+ CBP students weekly. The organization runs with one full-time and two part-time employees supported by approximately 100 volunteers and is governed by a local Board of Directors (President Denise Rodd, VP Joan Bucaro-Lopez, Treasurer Dorothea Stoll, Secretary Salima Ali, with members Lori A. Ellerman, Zehra Kanji-Ghaziani, and Dave Lewis), under Executive Director Barb Leane. Geographic scope is explicitly limited to Des Plaines, IL, with no current expansion beyond the single municipality.

Name

Self Help Closet & Food Pantry

Legal name

Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines

Website

https://selfhelppantry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 providing free food, clothing, and weekend backpack meals to Des Plaines residents. Three paid staff and 100 volunteers serve 900+ households and 150+ elementary students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Plaines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Food and Clothing Donations: The pantry accepts donations of non-perishable food items, seasonal clothing, personal care items, and other essentials from individuals, businesses, and community organizations. These in-kind donations form the primary inventory distributed to clients.
2. Monetary Donations: Cash and check donations provide flexibility to purchase perishable items like meat, cheese, butter, and milk that cannot be accepted as in-kind donations. Accepts PayPal, checks, cash, gift cards, and postage stamps.
3. Annual Sponsorship Program: Annual sponsorships at Diamond ($1,000+), Platinum ($500-$999), and Gold ($250-$499) levels provide recurring financial support with recognition on website and print newsletter.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that provides free groceries, seasonal clothing, personal care items, baby supplies, and household linens to Des Plaines, Illinois residents in need. It also operates the Community Backpack Project (CBP), which delivers weekend backpacks of easy-to-prepare meals to food-insecure elementary students in Community Consolidated School District 62.

Product overview

Self Help Closet & Food Pantry is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization operating as a traditional food pantry and clothing closet with no technology platform. The organization offers three core services: (1) the Food Pantry providing free groceries to qualifying Des Plaines residents monthly, (2) the Clothing Closet distributing seasonal clothing and household linens, and (3) the Community Backpack Project (CBP), an outreach program providing weekend meals to elementary school students in District 62. Additionally, the organization hosts the annual Masquerade to Unmask Hunger fundraiser. The organization does not operate a software product, digital platform, or technology offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community Backpack Project (CBP): An outreach program of the Self-Help Closet & Pantry providing weekend meals to elementary students in Community Consolidated School District 62 who are in need. Students receive backpacks filled with easy-to-prepare meals such as oatmeal, canned soup, instant pasta dishes, canned protein, applesauce, snacks and juice.

Products and services

• Food Pantry Services Free monthly grocery distribution to Des Plaines, IL residents in need (and families with children in Des Plaines public schools). Clients register once with photo ID, proof of address, and proof of income and may visit once per calendar month.
• Clothing Closet Free distribution of seasonal clothing, jackets, shoes, underwear, socks, bed linens, blankets, and towels to community members in need.
• Community Backpack Project (CBP) Weekly backpacks of easy-to-prepare meals (oatmeal, canned soup, pasta, canned protein, applesauce, snacks, juice) delivered to District 62 schools and distributed by school social workers to food-insecure elementary students; serves 150+ students weekly.

Quantifiable outcome

• 900+ households served with food and clothing
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Illinois Extension SNAP Education ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Illinois Extension's SNAP education program focuses on healthy options for clients. SNAP educators work with the pantry to improve services, provide signage and recipes in multiple languages, and conduct food sampling using pantry ingredients. A Rivers Casino donation specifically funds fresh, nutritious foods purchased in partnership with this initiative to help clients make healthy food choices.
• Costco (Niles)minorOthersRegular food donations throughout the year
• Jewel-Osco (Lee St. and Elmhurst Rd. stores in Des Plaines)minorOthersRegular food donations throughout the year including Turkey Dinner and Ham Dinner food drives
• Panera Bread (Mannheim Rd. in Des Plaines)minorOthersRegular food donations throughout the year
• Target (Niles and Rosemont)minorOthersRegular food donations throughout the year
• Topco Associates (Itasca)minorOthersRegular food donations throughout the year
• Rivers Casino (Des Plaines)coreOthersGenerous donation to the Pantry and Community Backpack Project used to purchase food, powdered milk, hygiene products, and school supplies for School District 62 students. Donation also funds fresh, nutritious foods for clients in partnership with University of Illinois Extension. Rivers Casino employees volunteer and help sort donations.
• Community Consolidated School District 62coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool social workers identify students in need for Community Backpack Project. The pantry delivers weekly backpacks to schools for distribution to food-insecure students who receive free/reduced school meals.
• Maine West High School Warrior GardenminorOthersAnnual fundraising and food drive supporter
• Forest School Area Turkey TrotminorOthersAnnual Thanksgiving morning run/walk event supports the Pantry. 8am check-in, 9am start at Beacon Tap.
• St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox ChurchminorOthersAnnual food drive supporter through Feed My Neighbor program
• Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & IndustryminorOthersFeatured in 'Please Stop Here' video series; organizes annual Food Fight food drive among member businesses
• First Congregational Church of Des PlainesminorOthersFounded the pantry in 1971 through Women's Fellowship Circle; continues as ongoing supporter
• WTTW Chicago TonightminorOthersFeatured on WTTW Chicago Tonight 'In Your Neighborhood' series providing community visibility
• City of Des PlainesminorOthersCity support including visits to new location; Department of Human Services provides referrals and additional resources for clients

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Metropolitan Division: Major regional nonprofit operating food pantries, clothing distribution, and emergency relief across Chicagoland. Comparable service portfolio targeting similar populations in adjacent areas.
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: Large regional social services nonprofit offering food, clothing, and emergency assistance across the Chicago archdiocese. Overlaps with Self Help Closet's mission at significantly greater scale and scope.
• Feeding America: National hunger-relief organization and parent network for many regional food banks including those that supply Greater Chicago Food Depository. Operates at massive scale in the same food-insecurity space.

Direct peers

• Northern Illinois Food Bank: Regional food bank serving Northern Illinois including the Des Plaines area. Directly comparable as a food-distribution nonprofit addressing food insecurity in the same geography.
• Loaves & Fishes Community Services: Community food pantry and resource center in Naperville, IL providing groceries and related services to neighbors in need. Closest comparable by service mix (food + clothing + supportive services) at similar community scale.
• Share Our Spare: Chicago-area nonprofit collecting and distributing essential baby and toddler items to families in need. Comparable as a small, community-led, donation-driven nonprofit addressing specific underserved populations in the same region.
• Greater Chicago Food Depository: Chicago-area food bank that supplies partner pantries including community-based operations like Self Help Closet. Operates the same food-distribution model at greater scale in overlapping geography.

Others

• United Way of Metropolitan Chicago: Regional umbrella funder and convener supporting community-based human services organizations like Self Help Closet. Comparable through shared donor base, community impact focus, and nonprofit ecosystem role.

Regional players

• Niles Township Food Pantry: Neighboring community food pantry serving Niles Township, IL — geographically adjacent to Des Plaines. Directly comparable community-scale food distribution model serving similar suburban Chicago demographics.

Emerging players

• Hunger Resource Network: Network organization supporting Chicago-area food pantries through shared resources, training, and donor coordination. Comparable as an ecosystem participant serving the same operational niche as Self Help Closet.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/self-help-closet-pantry-of-des-plaines

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Self Help Closet & Food Pantry