Char (left) and Ken Kania have volunteered their time, and eventually overseeing, the Community Food Pantry of Richmond and Spring Grove for the last quarter-century. Photo by Gregory Harutunian/for Chronicle Media

Ken and Char Kania began their involvement with the Community Food Pantry of Richmond and Spring Grove on a volunteer basis in 1990. Through times of lean supplies and fruitful bounty, they have witnessed firsthand what it means to be of service to those people in need while maintaining a singular purpose.

“We simply wanted to do something for the community,” said Char Kania, the pantry’s director. “It was also something to do in our retirement years, and in that time, we’ve seen an increase in people … families needing assistance because job-related layoffs, home foreclosures, and the poor economy, in general.”

It has been 25 years working out of the basement in Memorial Hall at 10308 Main Street in Richmond, initially as quiet workers. Their responsibilities evolved into overseeing the daily operations, and keeping the pantry afloat through lean times with few goods to disperse and the more fruitful times.

Ken Kania had said he was happy to stay behind the scenes by stocking shelves, sorting items, checking for expiration dates on products in addition to stocking the refrigerators, checking the five freezers containing perishable goods to make sure everything was safe and running properly. “He suffered a heart attack last year, and his good thoughts are still here at the pantry,” said Char.

Families requesting assistance come from the surrounding areas of Richmond and Spring Grove, yet the thought of asking for charity also carries an implied onus of embarrassment, which the Kanias both try to dissuade.

“The majority of the pantry users are hard-working folks, who are suffering hard times, and it’s difficult for them to even approach a food service like this,” she said.  “A lot of families fall through the cracks because they’re embarrassed. One can’t be judgmental, as a person’s given situation may be more difficult than another, as with terminally ill children.”

There are unique life-affirming success stories from the pantry’s annals including 130 children setting off for classes with donations of new school packs several years ago, along with families receiving winter clothing and food baskets for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Despite the tide of unfortunate circumstances, the Kanias stood in the breach with a conviction: their efforts are unpaid and entirely on a volunteer basis.

“It’s truly remarkable, and they’re greatly under-appreciated … you wonder who will carry the torch when they’re gone,” said Tom Van Daele, owner of Van’s Supermarket. “We’ve been donating to the pantry for about six years. What the Kanias do, exemplifies the best of what a person can be, and we’re very lucky they’re part of the town’s fabric.”

Fundraising efforts and donations by the local business community have helped assist the pantry, through garage sales and the annual spaghetti dinner hosted by the Richmond-Spring Grove Rotary Club that netted $6,000 last March.

“It’s a big event and gets the community involved in helping the food pantry,” said Polly Fishback, a member and Richmond branch manager for the First National Bank of McHenry.

The community has drop-off barrels for donations of non-perishable foods at the Richmond Township offices, McHenry Savings Bank, the Richmond Post Office, Van’s Supermarket, the village hall of Spring Grove and Richmond.

“We have a large donation barrel in the lobby foyer,” said Karla Thomas, Richmond’s village clerk. “We’re very grateful for the Kanias, and the time they have freely given to help others in need.”

The Village of Richmond owns the Memorial Hall, but donated the downstairs storage spaces and intake office to the pantry in 1993, when it moved from the site following the construction of its new Village Hall and municipal offices at 5600 Hunter Drive.

However the pantry has steadily outgrown the facility.

“We serve 154 families now, and if we had the room, we could offer more programs for children during the day,” said Char. “We have so many elderly people that it breaks my heart because it’s inaccessible to them with all the stairs to climb down. We need a place that’s more handicapped accessible.”

The group has located a property that is all one level with room to grow within the village’s boundaries. Indications are such that a majority of the funding for a potential bid has been accumulated, and discussions with the property owner will hopefully garner a potential agreement that is workable.

For now, the group of volunteers makes do with space and circumstances, and Char Kania is thankful for the number of volunteers that provide support and help at the pantry.

“We’d never be able to do this, without all of the wonderful people that volunteer their time, and the people in the community that support us through food donations and funds,” said Char.

“It’s been a long time, 25 years, and we’re only looking forward to the future, and how we can help others.”

To donate, call (815) 678-4351, or write Community Pantry, P.O. box 78, Richmond, Illinois 60071.