Jasmine Pendleton, 33, arrived at St. Philip Neri Church’s food pantry with her husband, Jamal, 34, and their youngest daughter, Ava, 2. Ava stayed close to her mother as the family moved through the pantry, pausing to look over shelves stocked with fresh produce, meat and other staples.
A mother of four, Pendleton depends on the pantry to help meet her family’s basic food needs. Like many parents, she juggles the demands of raising children with the rising cost of groceries and limited access to nearby stores.
“This pantry makes a real difference for my family,” Pendleton said. “Having all the basics for the kids matters, and we’re grateful to get that here, especially now with the new layout.”
Jasmine Pendleton shops for groceries with her husband, Jamal, and her daughter, Ava. (Photos by Jim Vondruska for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)
After reopening in November following a three-month renovation, St. Philip Neri food pantry is serving more neighbors in a space designed to better meet community needs. For the past 25 years, the pantry has been a Food Depository partner and a steady presence in the South Shore neighborhood, where the poverty rate is more than double the national average and many families face ongoing food insecurity.
Crystal Watson, co-director of the pantry, has been involved for four years and has seen how critical that consistency is.
“Reliable access to food is a huge help for this community, especially with the level of food insecurity in the area,” Watson said.
“There is only one grocery store within a mile, so for many families this pantry fills a real gap.”
Adding efficiency and choice
Inspired by the needs of their neighbors, St. Philip Neri Church decided to renovate and expand the pantry space to better serve the community. Before the remodel, pantry distributions took place outdoors, where limited space, weather conditions and an inefficient layout made service more challenging for both guests and volunteers.
For decades, St. Philip Neri Church and its food pantry have been a trusted presence in the South Shore community.
While the pantry had always offered perishable foods, it relied on limited, outdated cold storage equipment that restricted the volume and variety of items it could safely distribute. Rusty shelving and wooden pallets were difficult to clean and maintain, creating additional challenges in a space that prioritizes food safety and accessibility.
Working together with the Food Depository, pantry leaders took the opportunity to reimagine how the space could function, focusing on efficiency, dignity and guest choice.
The renovation allowed the pantry to move service fully indoors, creating a cleaner, safer and more comfortable environment for everyone involved. Guests now enter through a courtyard entrance designed to improve traffic flow and reduce wait times. Inside, the space features new shelving, fresh paint and upgraded cold storage, with an additional freezer and refrigerator still to come.
Stocked shelves at St. Philip Neri food pantry reflect expanded capacity following the pantry’s recent renovation.
One of the most significant changes is how neighbors receive food. For the first time, the pantry can invite guests to select the foods that best meet their household needs rather than offering prepackaged options. This approach allows families to choose items they know they will use and enjoy, reducing food waste and restoring a sense of agency to the experience. The pantry has also expanded its hours, making it easier for working families and caregivers to access food.
“Being inside makes a huge difference,” Watson said. “People can take their time and choose what works for their families.”
Feeling the difference
The community is already taking notice of the changes. Before the renovation, the pantry served an average of 90 to 100 guests each week. Since reopening, St. Philip Neri now serves closer to 120 neighbors weekly, with numbers continuing to grow as more residents learn about the expanded space and services.
Guest choice is central to the experience at St. Philip Neri food pantry, where Pamela Plattner shops in the newly renovated space.
Pamela Plattner, 62, first began visiting the pantry during the pandemic, when food access became more uncertain. She said the transformation was evident as soon as she walked through the door. “Before, it felt a little rushed and uncomfortable,” she said. “Now it feels welcoming. I can choose the food I want to eat, and it’s overall a warmer environment.”
Plattner often comes early in the week, when the shelves are fullest. She enjoys the meat and fresh produce, and selects items she can use in meals she prepares for herself.
“The pantry is really helpful for me and for the whole community. I think with the renovations it will be even better. I'm grateful for this."
A volunteer helps Pamela Plattner pick out shelf stable goods to take home.
With expanded hours and additional food support from the Food Depository, St. Philip Neri pantry is keeping shelves stocked as more neighbors seek assistance. As demand continues to rise, the renovated space ensures that food access remains available to the South Shore community in a way that reflects dignity, choice and compassion.
For families walking through its doors, the pantry is not just a place to pick up groceries – it is a reminder that their community sees them, supports them and is committed to meeting their needs with care and respect.
Share This Post
