By Mindy Carls
West Henry News
Should the Orion Area Food Pantry continue to have space in a new or renovated village hall? Supporters of the food pantry are expected to present their case during the regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19.
At a special meeting on Sept. 29, 2022, Trustee Steve Newman moved to include at least 1,000 square feet for the food pantry. The motion passed on a voice vote.
At its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 5, a year and a half later, the village board reviewed the most recent floor plan and cost estimate for a new village hall. The floor plan did not include the food pantry.
Trustee Mel Drucker said he was tired of Orion taxpayers paying for projects to benefit the Orion school district. A food pantry was worthwhile, but why was it the village’s responsibility to provide space?
Village President Jim Cooper said the food pantry could buy the existing village hall.
Trustee Bob Mitton commented on the cost of renovating or constructing a village hall.
“Is it going to get cheaper down the road?” Trustee Bob Mitton said. He is the chairman of buildings and grounds. “We will never get to the point where everything else is taken care of and now we can do village hall.”
After the meeting, the food pantry’s Steve Wright commented on the issue. The village hall has provided space for the food pantry since the mid-1980s.
The food pantry has a small office on the main floor of the current village hall, plus shelves and refrigeration in the basement, Wright said. It does not take up 1,000 square feet.
In a new village hall, 1,000 square fee would be more than adequate, he said.
The food pantry board has discussed options, Wright said. They include housing it out of town, or co-oping with another food pantry, such as Coal Valley, Colona, Cambridge or Sherrard, or disbanding. They have not discussed these options with other food pantries.
The Orion Food Pantry served 334 families in 2023. Seventy percent, or 233, lived in the Village of Orion limits.
