Jill Cataldo

What was the former Grafton Township pantry has indeed moved to Smith Road in Huntley -- it's still staffed by the same volunteers, and I've been there since their move - nice big space in the industrial park. PLEASE continue donating there if you previously donated when it was located at the township office.

As for Linda Moore... my feelings on her "removing" the food pantry because she feels it's unnecessary & seems to have a personal vendetta against it cannot be adequately expressed on this blog.

I do continue to be saddened that someone who ran on a campaign promising to get rid of both the food pantry and senior citizen busing in our county actually won the election though.

As others have said Jill does take plenty to the food pantry and also teaches them how to shop better to provide more. I'm reasonably sure you are one of those people I continually see at the store spending over $100 on a cart of groceries and handing over 5 coupons for $1.50 off. Or donating a box of cereal and a can of soup to a food drive.
I was a reader of other money saving blogs well before I found Jill and learned local savings such as Jewel through Jill for which I am grateful. I used to have trouble buying a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving and this year my total was 89 cents for a full meal thanks to Jill's tips.
I am one of those "hoarders" you mention. Not only am I able on one salary to stock my household, but with more of my friends turning up unemployed I have been able to help them and also donate to the food pantry.
So those of you who are dismayed to see Jill and her stockpile, keep on tsk-tsking her. The rest of us know better.

The unbelievable gall of this comment - you have no idea of what you speak. We all have learned how to save money and help others through the efforts of Jill. I've never been able to donate to a food pantry before but now I can! And it's all because I know how to shop better, use coupons and save money!

Perhaps you should get all the facts before you criticize someone you don't know.

I don't know how you live with your self coming into a place like this and criticising someone who has helped so many. All of us here have been doing all these deals for months and getting all that stuff for free too. Are you telling us you wouldn't get those things if they were free? Guess what they are free with coupons, all the time.

I think you should go read what Jill's food pantry says about this incredible woman.

Cataldo and her family are long-time supporters of Grafton Township's Food Pantry. Nearly every week, Cataldo and her family donate highly-needed goods to the Food Pantry. As well, Cataldo has provided specifically designed shopping techniques to Grafton Township Food Pantry volunteers and staffers to better able them to keep the pantry well stocked during these times of need.

"Jill is probably one of the most generous, giving people in our community," Rossi said. "Not only generous with the goods she brings to our food pantry, but generous with [her] knowledge. She wants to share, [to help others] and be able to save [money to] be better consumers."

Recently, Cataldo met a family at one of her classes that displays how necessary her support in Grafton is needed and how well her techniques work. Cataldo explained: "I had a family come to a class about two-and-a-half months after they had attended their first class. I didn't know them. [The family] said, 'You talk about your time spent volunteering with Grafton Pantry.' One of the family members said, 'We had been patrons of the Grafton Township Food Pantry for several months due to a job loss in the family.'" The family came to their first class in hopes in hopes of learning how to reduce their shopping bill. "After my class, within the first month, [the family] stopped relying on the pantry," Cataldo said. "Within the second month, [the family] actually started taking food to the pantry."

I think Bab that you are jealous. Why dont you go to one of Jill's free classes and learn to do this yourself. be sure to report back on how many bags of food YOU ARE TAKING TO THE PANTRY each week, sadly my guess right now is none.

Jill we love you dearly like a sister to all. Keep up your great work.

I invite you to call the Grafton Township food pantry in Huntley and ask them how much food and supplies I take there on a weekly basis (3-4 bags a week.) I'm there every single week with my children, volunteering and dropping off food.

The photo was taken about a week before the coupon class I held for the patrons of that pantry too. After the photo, I loaded up the trunk of my car until it really could not fit much more of anything -- took it to the food pantry class and left it for the pantry's patrons. There's a photo on the front page of the blog from this class as well - the food covered several tables.

The actual, out-of-pocket cost of everything I took to the pantry was under $10. The picture is an example of the large amount and kinds of things that one can get FREE with coupons. I have always, and will continue to be, as generous as I possibly can be with the things I'm able to get for free with coupons.

I'd invite you to come to one of my classes so that you could learn how to do the same thing for yourself. I'm not "hoarding" supplies, by any means - a huge portion of what you see in that photo went to the food pantry a week later (and again, you can call them and ask them -- you certainly don't have to take my word for it. They know me very well over there! :)

I'm trying to teach as many classes as possible so that people can learn to shop this way as well. In every single class I teach, I mention that it's my hope that when people do start shopping and enjoying getting so many things for free that they, in turn, will remember their local food pantries as well. I'm thrilled that I'm able to feed our family of 5 on a budget of $40-$60 a week... AND bring bags of food to the pantry each week as well.

But maybe you should be ashamed of YOUR self! Jill doesn't "hoard" anything. she buys everything she needs for her family, AND supplies her local food bank with a ton of donations every week. stop by a class & check it out if you wish, but don't judge until you have a clue! and considering Jill has a family of 5 - she NEEDS a lot of shampoo, food, etc. Do a little research before you make snap judgements & learn what she is really about.

You really should take one of the classes. Jill tries to impress the importance of donating a portion of your deals to the pantry and how you can do so while gathering your own stockpile. Ashamed? Never - Jill gives to the pantry weekly. Every Monday Jill travels to the stores in search of the best deals to post here on the blog, to help people like you and me, even though she may not be in need of anything in particular for herself. I'll bet that because her own stockpile is complete - a majority of those weekly purchases go directly to the pantry. You shouldn't pass judgement on anyone before you know the facts. Perhaps you should read this.

I don't know why you would criticize someone for stocking up for their family. Maybe you don't have children. #2, do you know how much food and goods Jill has taken to food banks? Probably not. I can't tell you how many of these loyal blog readers have donated to food banks. It got to the point where the food banks couldn't accept anymore frozen food - freezers and refrigerators were filling up. Jill has been a great inspiration not only to save money for our families but to always think of others in need. You sound kind of greedy, actually, that you are not happy that Jill has a great pantry that she actually worked hard for in order for her children to have everything they need even if there were a crisis in this horrible economy. What any great mother would do!

Jill:

I haven't had a chance to see the article yet, but wanted to commend/defend you on your oustanding efforts in making regular donations to your local food pantry. I love to read your blurbs about taking your kids on some of your weekly drop-offs to the pantry. You have inspired many of us to increase our donations to our own local pantries, in a way that doesn't take a huge bite out of the budget. In addition, the fact that you take time out to help show the pantry volunteers how to make the most out of pantry financial donations is amazing.

Thank you Jill for all that you do.

Wow - I'm really shocked that someone would say this! After seeing Jill @ a class, and admiring how she NEVER takes "all" of the specials, and even travelled to several WAGs for various deals in order to leave deals on the shelves. I've also been very impressed with her message that we SHOULD donate to local food pantries. I'm still very new to this, so not sure how "bab" could have missed this message from Jill. She's helping us all out here, as well as others in need. Now...I haven't seen the photo, but am still very shocked by your response!

Yes, the article was written by Jean Murphy who covers Mount Prospect. We invited her to attend and interview participants when Jill appeared at the Mount Prospect Public Library on February 24. It is a well-written article and I believe it presents Jill in a very positive light. As someone who attended the program, I can attest to the fact that she clearly communicated the amount of goods she donates and the time she commits to her local food pantry and she encouraged everyone at the presentation (over 120) to do the same.