We broke ground in 2022 on a 38,000 square-foot facility expansion that included a commercial kitchen for preparing and packaging meals and an expansion of parking for volunteers, guests, and our fleet. The new facilities were constructed to the immediate west of our warehouse and offices on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
The new prepared meals kitchen is a key component of a larger strategy to connect priority populations with nourishing meals. We aim to prepare 2.5 million healthy meals per year, tailored to the individual needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and patients with chronic health conditions, and deliver up to 7 days a week. Initially, this strategy is focused on older adults and people in need of medically tailored meals. Expansion plans include preparing and procuring meals for opportunity youth, justice involved individuals, and other groups at elevated risk of hunger.
We also invested directly in local Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-led providers and community-based organizations to source nutritious prepared meals like those we produce. These vendors included those serving opportunity youth ages 16-24, participants in workforce development programs, people experiencing a housing crisis, or pantry clients. This investment enables these organizations to provide jobs, support hyper-local economies, and offer food security to families in need. Our strategy has shifted power and built assets in BIPOC communities, while ensuring more meals are available for our at-risk neighbors.