We all have seen stories about long lines of people going to food pantries for the first time. At Care for Real, because of the hard work of our staff and volunteers, along with our efficient new distribution model, our shoppers were spared the long lines.
As we’ve been reporting, Care for Real saw a huge increase in the number of new families coming to the food pantry. Between the beginning of March and the end of May, we registered 599 new shoppers at our pantry on Sheridan Road in Edgewater. That is almost as many as we registered in all of 2019 (619 new shoppers). And that number doesn’t include the 175 new families we served at the Rogers Park pop-up this spring.
Although the number of new clients has been slowing as Chicago reopens, we expect to experience a second surge later this summer when the supplemental unemployment benefits end. But, because of your support, we are positioned to again respond quickly and efficiently to the ebbs and tides of Covid-19. Care for Real’s aim is to always be responsive to the needs of our neighbors, whether it be for food for their family or their pet, clothing or support.
We are honored to premiere this video produced by Garry Grasinski and Lisa von Drehle as a gift to Care for Real. The video gives an in-depth look at the work we do every day to bring nourishment and hope to our neighbors in need. Though we’re not wearing masks and social distancing in the video (shot pre-pandemic), please be assured that we are taking those precautions now. And though Lyle Allen has moved on, we know he’s still advocating for us as he is in this video. A heartfelt thank you to Garry and Lisa for this generous donation and for telling our story.
Can you make a donation today to help us provide food to those who need it most?
info@careforreal.org 773.769.6182 5339 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60640