Community Coffee Hour
Join us on the first Thursday of every month from 10-11am with Endeavor Health for a coffee hour where you can engage in a community-led conversation with licensed social workers and a registered dietitian.This new event is all about building connections and fostering support in a welcoming environment. No registration is needed before coming.
Time & Location:
- 10am -11am
- Common Pantry, 3908 N Lincoln Ave
2025 Dates:
- February 6
- March 6
- April 3
- May 1
Monthly Cooking Class
As a part of our nutrition program, we will be offering monthly cooking classes led by our Registered Dietitian.
Each month there will be a new recipe demoed where you can learn some nutrition tips and a new dish that you can make with ingredients from the pantry.
For each class you can expect to get a live cooking demo, nutrition tips from a registered dietitian and one bag of produce and recipe card from the class that you can take home with you. No registration is needed before coming.
Time & Location:
- 12pm-1pm
- Common Pantry, 3908 N Lincoln Ave
2025 Schedule:
- January 23
- February 20
- March 20
- April 17
More Than Just Food
Addressing food insecurity can’t be about providing only food when folks who are the most vulnerable have chronic diseases at higher rates. Hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes are just some of the chronic diseases that can be prevented and managed through eating a nutrient-rich, balanced diet. But when you’re on a fixed income or don’t have a stable source of food, how do you decide between your health or your next meal?
This year, Common Pantry expanded upon our priority of providing nutritious food by launching our Nutrition Education Program, led by our Registered Dietitian. The program includes cooking classes and demos, recipe cards based on the food we provide, take home nutrition resources, ready-to-eat prepared meals, food sampling and nutrition ranking which all aims to bridge the gap between the food we eat and the benefits it can provide.
Jean, 79, is one of our many guests who has fully participated in our nutrition program since its launch in July.
“I love this cooking class. As old as I am, when they say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, yes you can! Because I learned different things in just three classes.”
Jean has spent her life surrounded by food. Having grown up spending summers on farms, working most of her career in restaurants, and finding joy in cooking her own food, one could say she already knows a lot. But when we offered a class about hypertension she was able to learn about a topic that was close to home.
Jean has heart issues and had open heart surgery nearly 20 years ago. Even though the hospital provided diet and health classes, she never felt like the information applied to her and didn’t know where to turn for help.
Now, Jean knows that when she comes to one of our cooking classes, she’s guaranteed to leave with a new recipe plus information that she trusts and can work with her day-to-day life.
“They’re doing all these recipes, they’re giving a lot of helpful health information that you don’t necessarily see or hear all the time”
Jean has been coming to Common Pantry for almost 10 years, long before our nutrition program started. Having heard about the pantry from a friend, she initially came for groceries and to receive a hot meal. On a fixed income and receiving only a small amount of social security and SNAP benefits, Jean relies on Common Pantry for staples.
The older she gets, the harder it is for her to go grocery shopping and cook for herself. Jean always makes sure to visit our weekly hot lunch, because that's one less meal that she has to cook.
“When you get older, your whole world gets more limited and this is a big part of my world.”
Beyond getting food, Jean has also found a community here. With volunteers who know her name, familiar faces when she shops, and staff going above and beyond to meet her needs, Jean knows she's cared for at Common Pantry.
Jean's story is not an outlier. Among families who access food pantries in Chicago, one-third have a family member with diabetes and over half have a family member with high blood pressure. It is not enough to provide access to healthy food. We must also provide the resources and opportunities for our guests to learn the science behind food and feel empowered to lead healthy lives.
We can't do this crucial work without you.
Give today to help meet our guests where they are and provide the resources they need most.
Client Spotlight - Meet Judy
“I thought I could make it at first, but I realized I really can’t”
Judy is like thousands of Chicagoans who are struggling, surviving on only $66 in SNAP benefits every month. With 1 in 5 households facing food insecurity it’s no surprise it’s difficult to make ends meet. The differences? She’s 75, can’t work and only has her motorized scooter for transportation.
Judy is just one of the 100+ seniors who receives home delivered groceries from Common Pantry each month, while many others are on a waitlist for the vital service.
She discovered Common Pantry in 2019 when she saw our volunteers delivering groceries to neighbors. At the time, she thought she could continue as she had been: stretching her SNAP benefits, shopping the sales, eating cheaper options.
Judy had gone through some hard times throughout her life and knew how to get by. She raised her kids as a single mother, did whatever she could to earn a little extra money and knew the tricks to make food last.
Throughout the years, Judy had heard of food pantries but having had one dehumanizing experience and not being able to physically wait in line, she didn’t want to ask for help unless she really needed to.
Then, as she got older and it became more difficult to get around, she realized that moment had arrived. Her friend who would drive her to grocery stores had passed away, her kids were struggling on their own, food prices were growing and she had limited access to stores. With no other options, she decided to reach out to Common Pantry staff for help.
Since she joined home delivery, the groceries Judy receives each month have changed her life immensely. She has variety in her diet, now having reliable access to fresh produce, eggs and meat and not being forced to only eat canned vegetables or boxed mac and cheese. She can splurge to buy cereal every so often because she knows she’ll get milk. She is able to plan ahead for meals and enjoy her food.
She no longer has to carry the mental burden of not knowing what she is going to eat or how she’s going to afford food. Instead she can focus on spending time with her kids and grandchildren and taking care of her pet pa
rrot, Charlie.
Beyond receiving food and relieving stress, what Judy values the most from our home delivery program are the special touches that make her feel cared for. From the cards and crafts she receives from Common Kids to the smiling faces of our volunteers going above and beyond, Judy can tell that everything comes from the heart.
“It’s such a good feeling to have that to look forward to, not just for the food but being treated so well, being treated like you’re somebody. It really makes the difference in how you think of yourself”
Hunger and food insecurity have been on the rise in Chicago. For months, we have had long lines. We see new faces daily and an ever growing waitlist to join home delivery. As we settled in our new home, we increased our programming to offer another grocery distribution to meet the demand, but we need your support. Since the start of 2024, Common Pantry has increased emergency groceries by 55% - serving over 1,000 families a month- with no end in sight.
Click here to give today to help our neighbors like Judy, who beyond receiving food, had her hope restored.
New Tuesday Distribution Hours
Starting February 6, 2024 we will offer Tuesday distribution hours from 4-6pm. Guests can receive a pre-packed, to-go set of groceries. This will be a faster option than our full client-choice distributions on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Grocery distribution on Wednesdays and Thursdays will remain as client-choice.
No sign-up or pre-registration required and this is included in the monthly allotment of groceries.
Client Spotlight- Meet Charles
Charles, a Chicagoan since the age of 2, a northsider since 2007, and a part of the Common Pantry community since 2017.
Charles first came to Common Pantry when he was experiencing homelessness, living on the streets and staying at shelters. He heard about Common Pantry from others as being a place that was more than just food. It was a place where he could escape to and receive much needed help. From receiving help to obtain a state ID, to using the phone to stay on top of job opportunities, to finding a community that he looks at like his family. He came here for just a hot meal, but ended up finding so much more.
Charles was able to find housing and stability that improved his life greatly. He continued to rely on the pantry for monthly groceries and camaraderie. But during Covid, Charles found himself facing serious health issues involving his diabetes. He went to the hospital to deal with initial complications and ended up learning the extent of his situation that led to him making the decision to amputate his leg.
He stayed in the hospital for a few months afterwards to heal and learn how to live without two legs. He was used to walking anywhere he needed to be. Suddenly, he was in pain and struggling to adapt to his new normal. There were even times when Charles would wake up and fall out of bed, thinking he had two good legs.
During this time, the Common Pantry team had no idea what was happening. They asked around to see if anyone had heard from him or had seen him, but no one had. The entire team hoped for the best and that they would see his smiling face soon.
Months later and when Charles was fully recovered, he was able to make his way back to the pantry and was welcomed with open arms.
With it now being over a year since he was in the hospital, Charles can drive his “lexus” (aka what he calls his wheelchair) like a bus, being able to laugh anytime there is a bump or stumble.
He continues to receive groceries and social services at Common Pantry, though now it looks a little different. He was once able to walk in, receive a hot meal and pick up his monthly groceries and now he has to make two buses and wait outside as there are stairs at every entrance preventing Charles from ever coming inside. He is also now working with Abby, our Licensed Clinical Social Worker, to apply for the accessibility resources he needs.
Beyond all the services he has received throughout the years, what Charles really values is that he is truly heard. He knows that when he wants to talk and vent about challenges that there will always be someone willing to listen and give positive feedback to help carry him through the day. Charles knows that Common Pantry really cares.
It’s no surprise that Charles is excited for us to move to our new home at 3908 N. Lincoln Ave. He will once again be able to come inside with ease. No steps or stairs involved. Charles will be able to roll right in the pantry to receive the same services.
Charles isn’t Common Pantry’s only guest who is in a wheelchair or has mobility issues. The majority (75%) of our guests use a cart, cane, wheelchair or similar devices that creates greater stress when trying to gain access to food. While Common Pantry is dedicated to breaking down barriers to accessing food, we know we can’t fully do that in our current home. We are excited and look forward to our move this summer, knowing that mobility will no longer be a factor to receive services. Everyone will be able to receive the same services with greater accessibility.
Give today to support our mission and to help our guests like Charles who beyond receiving food, found his second home. CLICK HERE TO DONATE
Chicago-Area Food Pantries Dealing With Rising Need, Higher Prices
Margaret O’Conor is executive director of Common Pantry on the North Side of Chicago, which went from serving about 386 families last year to 650 this year. “It’s a domino effect. People can’t afford their food because it costs too much, and likewise, people can’t donate as much either,” she said.
Common Pantry has also had to increase their food purchases by about 36%. O’Conor says they are still getting monetary donations, but their rescue program through local grocery stores has seen a dip. “It really just comes down to inflation. Not being able to recognize that this time last year, what the landscape would look like, that’s where we’re really seeing the impact,” she said.
To see the full new clip on WTTW CLICK HERE
https://news.wttw.com/2022/11/22/chicago-area-food-pantries-dealing-rising-need-higher-prices
VIDEO: We Are Common Pantry
https://youtu.be/4wBonDFgcjM
For Chicago resident Dionne, things were looking pretty bleak a few months ago. A change in her living situation left her without a home, and led her to stay in a shelter. Without steady employment, Dionne wasn’t sure what her future held.
Today, Dionne has a job doing contract tracing as part of COVID-19 efforts and an apartment of her own. She’s organized her new home, displaying all her favorite things from puzzles and floral artwork to work supplies and the food she gets at Common Pantry.
Dionne discovered the Pantry pre-pandemic, when she joined the weekly community meal. A lunch turned into a dinner, which turned into the opportunity to get groceries that fit Dionne’s taste and active lifestyle. Although she can no longer “shop” inside the Pantry due to COVID-19 regulations, Pantry volunteers make sure Dionne’s grocery bags have all her favorite foods: fish, poultry, turkey and fresh produce like broccoli, string beans, oranges and apples.
“I’m better today than I was a year ago…I’m happy to have been a part of a place that is so nourishing to your spirit and your soul… fills up your belly and and warms up your heart and I thank Common Pantry for all they have done for me.”
- Pantry client Dionne
Even in the midst of a pandemic, coming to the Pantry still feels like a visit with friends, Dionne says, with many new faces joining each week.
From March to April 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, need at Common Pantry doubled overall and tripled for households with children, according to Common Pantry Executive Director Margaret O’Conor. Because of generous donors, Common Pantry has met this demand and found new ways to serve clients, from increasing home delivery for seniors to offering drive-up services.
“This community has helped make sure that we could keep these doors open for over 50 years, we’re so grateful for that, we can do even more,” said O’Conor. “We can really grow and be forward thinking if we had the support to do so and we’re really excited about that.”
To step up and support Common Pantry today, make a donation here [link to donations page: https://www.commonpantry.org/donations/.
A big thank you to our partner Big Teeth Productions, who went above and beyond to help us create this video.
VIDEO: Pandemic Continues to Impact Food Insecurity
Several months into the global COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago’s oldest continually operating food pantry continues to serve an influx of people experiencing food insecurity.
Since the start of the pandemic, demand at Common Pantry has consistently been up 150%, with the Pantry spending three times as much on food and supplies compared to last year, Executive Director Margaret O’Conor said.
Many of the Pantry’s new clients are food service workers who have reduced hours or lost their jobs, and they are welcomed to use the Pantry’s services, O’Conor said.
Creative social distancing solutions to serve people safely have been in place since the start of the pandemic, and will continue into the winter months. Pantry staff and volunteers are preparing to best serve the community through new approaches that minimize time outdoors and utilize technology.
With an anticipated uptick in need this winter, Common Pantry asks for the continued support of our generous neighbors. As a nonprofit we have more buying power to get food in bulk, and your donations make this possible. Please donate now to help us stock up for winter.
