Monee Township Advances Food Pantry Non-Profit Status, Approves $2,000 Agreement

Monee Township Board Meeting | Sept. 2025

Article Summary: The Monee Township Board has officially filed for 501(c)(3) status for its food pantry and held the inaugural meeting of the new charity board. To support operations during the transition, the Trustees approved a $2,000 social service agreement with the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Pantry Governance Key Points:

• 501(c)(3) Filing: The Township Attorney reported that the application for tax-exempt status has been filed.

• New Board Meets: The “Monee Township Charity Fund Pantry Board” held its first annual board meeting on September 6, attended by Supervisor Donna Dettbarn and Trustee Deborah Burgess.

• Funding Approval: The Township Board voted unanimously to approve a $2,000 Social Service Agreement with the Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB).

• Timeline: Approval from the NIFB is expected to take up to six months.

The Monee Township Board on Thursday, September 18, 2025, took further administrative and financial steps to transition its food pantry into an independent charitable entity.

During the Attorney’s Report, Mario P. Carlasare confirmed that the 501(c)(3) application for the pantry has been officially filed. This legal status is a prerequisite for partnering fully with the Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB). Carlasare noted that the NIFB application process is ongoing and may take six months before final approval is received.

The new governance structure is already in motion. The “Monee Township Charity Fund Pantry Board” convened for its first annual board meeting on September 6, 2025. Supervisor Donna Dettbarn and Trustee Deborah Burgess attended the session to oversee the establishment of the new entity.

To ensure continued support for food-insecure residents during this transition, the Township Board voted 5-0 to approve a Social Service Agreement with the Northern Illinois Food Bank in the amount of $2,000. The motion was introduced by Trustee Billy Morgan and seconded by Trustee James W. Young.

Additionally, under Old Business, the Board reviewed and discussed the ongoing pantry renovation project, though no specific votes regarding construction were recorded in the minutes for this month.