Conflicting Statistics
Unemployment Down, Hunger Up

For the first time this year, Naperville unemployment rates fell. The latest results out from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show Naperville and Joliet areas lost about 184,000 jobs in the month of July, down 0.1 percent from the 197,000 jobs in June. IDES officials say the figures are grim but show the pace of job losses is slowing.

While that statistic might bring some optimism, another number is rising at an alarming rate. Local food pantry Loaves and Fishes reports a rate of growth of 55 percent, meaning longer lines and skimpier selections.

“It used to be like in and out but now we’re here for a few hours, past the times they close,” Jasmine Sank says.

Sank’s been coming to Loaves and fishes for the past few years and notices new faces every week.

“It’s not slowing down unfortunately,” Executive Director Charles McLimans says. In August alone, McLimans tells NCTV17 that 115 new families joined the food pantry client list.

Experts say there’s an explanation for the jumps at the food pantry: there’s a lag between when the economy picks up and when people actually see the perks. Human Right Group Heartland Alliance sites that over the past few years, the unemployment rate in Naperville has nearly tripled, and that when that happens, often times families are left to chose between food or shelter. Spoeksman and Associate Director Amy Terpstra says often times they’re choosing to seek help for food first.

“What we’re hearing from food pantries across the state and region. Unprecedented numbers of people who are walking through their doors,” Terpstra says. “Many of those people are middle class, former middle class people who just lost their jobs and who didn’t have much savings to fall back on.”

“Cost of living, trying to make it, the economy. It’s taking a toll on us,” client Celina Holcumb says.

NCTV17’s Lindsey Theis reports.