New Lenox Township Hires Full-Time Maintenance Position Amid Surging Food Pantry Demand

New Lenox Township Meeting | October 2025

Article Summary: The New Lenox Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved the creation of a new full-time maintenance position to help manage the increased workload from a rapidly growing food pantry. The decision came after the Director of Facilities & Programs reported that the time required to collect food donations has nearly doubled, straining existing staff and affecting other township responsibilities.

New Maintenance Position Key Points:

• The board voted unanimously to hire a full-time maintenance person.

• The starting salary was set at $21.00 per hour plus standard township benefits.

• The primary driver for the new position is the increased demand at the township’s food pantry.

• The pantry now requires food pickups from an increased number of stores to meet the needs of patrons.

NEW LENOX, IL – The New Lenox Township Board of Trustees on Thursday, October 9, 2025, unanimously approved hiring a new full-time maintenance employee to keep pace with the dramatically increased operational demands of its food pantry.

Supervisor Cass Wennlund and the board approved the new role following a request from Jim Pitcairn, the township’s Director of Facilities & Programs. Pitcairn explained that the number of patrons using the food pantry has almost doubled over the last four years, forcing staff to increase the number of stores they visit to pick up food donations.

This additional time spent on food collection has taken staff away from other essential duties, Pitcairn said. He argued that a dedicated full-time maintenance person is necessary to properly maintain the senior apartments, cemeteries, and other township properties while ensuring the pantry can continue its vital services.

Supervisor Wennlund voiced his support for the request. Trustee Patty Deiters made a motion, seconded by Trustee Barbara Kaupas, to hire a full-time maintenance person at a starting salary of $21.00 per hour plus standard benefits. The motion passed with a unanimous roll call vote.