04/23/2024
Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition and voiced their support for the new food pantry and resource center! Please keep sharing and engaging!
As we continue to advocate for the new resource center and more food and housing support in our Township, we witness the project being delayed by prejudice and stigmas.
A small but vocal group claims they oppose the proposed location for the new facility because of potential traffic. However, earlier, that same group claimed opposition based on stigmas about low-income and unhoused individuals. While their expressed concerns may not have been outright derogatory remarks, they were grounded in biases that lead to misconceptions and fears about low-income individuals, the circumstances that intersect with economic status (race, ethnicity, gender, etc.), and the impact of support services on property values, safety, and community aesthetics. Some concerns cited were:
> Allowing a food pantry to be near where children are
> Food pantry users would increase criminal activity
> The appearance of unhoused individuals being present in the area
One of the most significant barriers for people in need of assistance is stigma. They choose not to accept the help they need and deserve because they fear being judged and targeted.
DuPage Township Families champions inclusivity. We believe that advocating for equitable resources requires combating prevalent stigmas about people needing assistance and the intersectionality of those stigmas across race, ethnicity, gender, citizenship status, disabilities, neurodivergence, education, and other social contexts like profession and family makeup.
Join us in standing up for our community members and voice your support for the new food pantry and resource center! Please sign the petition!
Petition to Support the Development of the New DuPage Township Food Pantry in Bolingbrook!
