Skoff Community Room Offers Food, Clothing to Local Families

What started as a way to get food to families who needed some help has blossomed into a full-blown relief effort for community members struggling to cope with the effects of today’s economic conditions.

The brainchild of special education secretary Lisa Dole and six other staff members, the Skoff Community Room has existed for several months ever since shifting enrollment forced a cancellation of one of the school’s fifth-grade sections leaving a classroom empty.       

“They all asked what can we do with this empty room?” recalled Principal Laura Noon. “They all felt some of our families were going through hard times and needed some support so they started things out with a little bit of food.”

The seven staff members, including Dole, Ebony Wallace, Elise Foster, Elva Corona, Lori Conklin, Peter Kujawa and Lance Martin, worked hard to fill the pantry and equally hard to promote its existence to Skoff families.

“They kind of ran under the radar at first, bringing in things from their homes and from their friends and neighbors,” Noon said. “But then baby items started coming in…and more food. And then people brought in hats and coats because they new winter was coming.

“It’s kind of turned into this whole room of stuff,” she added.

That “stuff” includes hats, coats, gloves, pants, tops, baby clothes, baby furniture, toys, stuffed animals and, of course, non-perishable food. And more is coming in every day.

Dole says more than 100 families have gratefully accepted items from the Skoff Community Room.

“They’ve lost control of their lives. They can’t feed or clothe their family,” Dole said. “One way to give them control back is to empower them. Give them some boxes of food or some clothes. No questions asked.”

Plus, Dole said, Skoff Community Room participants receive advice on other community resources available to help them in their time of need.

“This is the mission of Valley View, the New View,” Dole said. “The education process doesn’t start here at K and end at 5. That’s not what education is.”

Noon, Dole and the Skoff Community Room team know the room will exist through the end of the current school year but they don’t know if it will be needed for a classroom next year.

“The thought is when we no longer can stock it ourselves or get donations, we’ll close,” Noon said.

The thought also is to expand the use of the room beyond just Skoff families to members of the Romeoville community.

“It’s not just for our families anymore,” Noon said. “It’s for anybody in the area who needs something.”

Donations of non-perishable food, gently-used clean clothing, toys, small furniture, baby items, shoes, coats, etc. would be most welcome. Items may be dropped off during normal school hours.

As for those seeking assistance, Dole generally tries to be at school by 6:30 a.m. each day so folks who come in “can have their privacy.” But anyone is welcome to stop by anytime the school office is open.

“I’ve learned a lot about people who are in situations most of us aren’t aware of,” Dole said. “We’re here to support them.”