Local Pantries Feeding Our Communities One of the many challenges facing our community as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was an increase in food insecurity. Our amazing local nonprofits rose to meet this challenge and feed our neighbors. Our local pantries noticed two key struggles emerging at the same time—the increase in food insecurity and economic impact of the pandemic on the restaurant industry—and devised creative solutions to address both. In the spring of 2020, Lakeview Pantry launched Feed it Forward, which purchased chef-prepared boxed meals from local restaurant partners to support local restaurants while feeding the community. During the program’s peak in spring of 2020, up to 10,000 meals were prepared and distributed. Around the same time, Common Pantry in Northcenter launched the I Am Your Neighbor meal program, which is still active, providing healthy, ready-to-eat meals from local restaurants to hungry neighbors. With support from donors, local Chambers, restaurants and the community at large, restaurants would receive a monetary “tab” to cover the cost of providing these meals. Collaboration for our local pantries expanded beyond restaurants. In addition to their partnerships with social service agencies like Thresholds, Lakeview Pantry worked alongside the Chicago Cubs to set up a massive emergency pantry outside Wrigley Field. Common Pantry’s collaborations
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included purchasing produce from Global Gardens Refugee Training Farm, a dual fundraising effort with the Northcenter Chamber through our Hop, Stop ‘N’ Run 5K and the regular First Wednesday Food Drive from the Northcenter Neighborhood Association. Common Pantry Director Margaret O’Conor highlights the efforts of one neighbor, David Reinisch, who has baked fresh bread for the neighbors Common Pantry serves every week. “Our community is Common Pantry,” she says. And our local pantries are continuing to expand services to meet the needs of the community. Lakeview Pantry is continuing their online market, an option that allows for consumer choice and convenient curbside pickup, along with their home delivery program. In May of 2021, Common Pantry purchased a new space at 3900 N. Lincoln that will allow them to serve the community more efficiently and with greater capacity. The economic impact and subsequent recovery for our most vulnerable neighbors from the past year is still unfolding, and our local pantries are prepared to meet those challenges. You can support Common Pantry or Lakeview Pantry by signing up to volunteer online, making a donation, teaming up with your coworkers, school or block or even just staying in touch by following on social media! Photo Credit: Common Pantry
