Bethlehem Center
Bethlehem Center was the a dream of one person, Sister Rosemarie Burian, SJJ. She was a Pastoral Associate at St. Mark Catholic Church in Wheaton, IL and had seen many hungry families come into their food pantry. One morning she awoke with the conviction that a center for the poor was needed in Du Page County that would not only feed their bodies but also their spirits. She gathered together a group of like minded individuals. They met monthly for a year and eventually the dream became Bethelehem Center.
During that year Sister met with many people in the area who were concerned about the plight of the poor, pastors, Social justice advocates, other sisters and lay people. In time a warehouse on Easy Street in Carol Stream was found by Paul Wood, a local businessman who had worked with Nick Hindman a local accountant to procure the space.
They became an affiliate of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, so with a building, a community and a commitment from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, it became apparent that funds were needed to proceed. The first funds came from Sue and Chuck Lohenry, of Wheaton who donated $100 from a garage sale. Doug Goodman, a Naperville printer, printed the first brochure for free. The first church to contribute was Community United Methodist Church of Naperville. The first agency to receive food was the Family Shelter in Glen Ellyn, a Women's shelter for abused women and children.
Many years later, Bethlehem Center was distributing thousands of pounds of donated food to thousands of hungry families.[1][2]
References
- Chicago Tribune. "We Felt For Them, We Have Kids".
- Chicago Tribune. "Pantry's Supplies Run Thin".