South Loop Food Pantry looks for volunteers

To download a flyer, click here.

South Loop Community Church Food Pantry, 1347 S. State St., is looking for volunteers to help with their food pantry and clothes closet ministries. The church will be holding a brief introduction meeting on volunteer opportunities, Wednesday July 16, 2014 at 7:15 p.m.

In operation for over two years, the food pantry serves between 85 and 100 walk-ins every week. If you’re looking for a way to serve or give back to your community, volunteering at the food pantry might be for you. The food pantry needs volunteers on Saturday mornings, when food distribution takes place, as well as during the week to help with accepting food deliveries and restocking shelves.

Food distribution is every Saturday, 9-11 a.m. Three times a month, the pantry also offers fresh produce.
The clothes closet distributes clothes and accessories for men, women, and children twice a month. The clothes closet operates the second and third Saturdays of every month during the food distribution. After food pantry clients get their food, they can look at clothing.

The food pantry has partnered with local businesses, like Overflow Coffee Bar, Marianos, Pret A Manger, and Urban Remix, and community organizations like Greater South Loop Association (GSLA). The GSLA contributed $1000 to the help the pantry buy turkeys last year for Thanksgiving baskets.

For more information, visit the church’s Web site or contact them via e-mail at southloopcommunitychurch@gmail.com or call the church office at 312.566.9076.

For a look at how the food pantry operates, check out this post from local South Loop blogger Bonnie McGrath.

Help Us Keep These Shelves Full

One of several shelves at the SLCC Food Pantry

We need help keeping our food pantry shelves full. Every Saturday, we distribute food to those in need, which requires us to constantly purchase more food from the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The SLCC Food Pantry purchases food from the GCFD, generally, two times a month. The GCFD does a great job providing food pantries with nourishing food at a reasonable cost. Even, so, our budget for food purchases only goes so far.

How Can You Help?
You can help us serve those in need in the South Loop and Chicago by donating nonperishable food items. The next time you’re in the supermarket and see a two-for-one or Ten-for-$10 sale, please consider putting one item aside for the food pantry. To see a list of suggested donation items (including items like toothpaste, soap, and shampoo), click on the “donation and volunteer opportunities” tab.

Convenient Drop-Off Locations
We have four drop-off locations around the South Loop: 2nd Ward Alderman’s Office, Donna’s Café, Overflow Coffee Bar, and Urban Re-Mix. To find the exact adresses and normal business hours for these locations, please click on the “drop-off locations” tab above. And please thank these businesses for being good neighbors. I’m sure they would love your patronage as well!

Food Distribution Continues

SLCC Food Pantry Volunteers

Once again, the SLCC provided food for those in need. Last Saturday (April 7) and today (April 14) we were able to provide clients with nourishing food, including frozen whole chickens, spinach, and onions. Thanks to our drop-off partners (Overflow Coffee Bar and Urban Re-Mix) and Panera Bread, we were able to provide additional food items.


Donated Food Items
Most of the food donated at our drop-off locations goes on the “client choice” table. After receiving bags of food, bread, and frozen meat, clients can choose up to three items from that table. One week we might have several jars of peanut butter and jelly. Another week, we might have pasta, tomato sauce, and canned chili.

Volunteers serve clients on April 7, 2011.

New Drop-Off Location
Donna’s Café, 1255E S. State St., is the latest place to donate nonperishable food. When you stop in to get a cup of coffee or a sandwich, you can drop off a can of soup or a box of pasta. Thanks, Donna for supporting the SLCC Food Pantry.

Bread, Chickens, and Crackerjack

Food Pantry volunteers help a guest (second from right)
with some food parcels

This Saturday (March 31, 2012) the SLCC Food Pantry had volunteers passing out food to residents of Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. Once again, we had a generous donation of bread from Panera, via the 2nd Ward Alderman’s office. We also had whole frozen chickens and thanks to another donation, we even had Crackerjack to distribute to those who wanted it.

The SLCC Food Pantry is open every Saturday 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Happy Anniversay Overflow Coffee Bar
Boy, did that year go by fast? Overflow Coffee Bar is a community-minded coffee shop that is helping SLCC Food Pantry by serving as a donation drop-off point. Nonperishable food items dropped off at Overflow have been distributed to those in need in our neighborhood. Celebrate Overflow’s anniversary by stopping by for a cup of fair trade coffee. Be sure to thank them for being good neighbors in the South Loop.

Whole frozen chickens were distributed Saturday.

More Drop-off Locations
Besides Overflow, you can drop-off nonperishable food items for the SLCC Food Pantry at the 2nd Ward Alderman’s Office and Urban-Remix. You may also drop-off food items at SLCC’s facility during normal business hours during the week. To make sure there is someone to receive your contributions, we recommend you call each drop-off location before you make your visit.

For a complete list of drop-off locations, including contact information, please click on
the “Food Drop-Off Locations” tab.

Food Pantry Update

Bags of food all in a row.

Another Saturday at the SLCC Food Pantry has come to an end. Maybe it was the beautiful weather or the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, but we weren’t nearly as busy as we were last week. Those guests who did show up received bags of food, frozen spinach, and bread—once again, courtesy of Panera Bread. . Guests were also able to choose three additional food items out of an assortment set up on a table. Many of those items items were donated from residents of the South Loop. Thank you, neighbors!

New Drop-Off Location
We have a new food drop-off location: Urban Re-Mix at 1468 S. Michigan Ave. Urban Re-Mix is an upscale furnishings consignment shop. Food items may be dropped off during normal business hours. For information on their business hours, please visit their Web site. When you’re looking for some unique home furnishings, drop in at Urban Re-Mix.

Vanessa and Daisy are ready to greet our guests.

More Drop-Off Locations Wanted
If you know of a business or organization that would be and ideal spot for dropping off donations for the SLCC Food Pantry, please contact us.