Juanita, retired at 67, still lives on the block where she grew up—in the Roseland neighborhood on the South Side. Her parents, 94 and 92, still live on the block too, along with most of the same neighbors. For years, they all enjoyed block parties full of laughter and mountains of food.

Folks used to gather at the neighborhood church, Allen Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal, for a big Wednesday evening meal. This changed when COVID-19 outbreaks started in Chicago. To keep her most vulnerable neighbors safe, Juanita takes home-cooked meals from the church and delivers them to individual homes.

Some things have changed a lot. COVID-19 saw to that. But Juanita is still helping her community thrive.

Juanita is just one of numerous volunteers caring for neighbors here. With the strength of your generous donations, they’re delivering up to 400 meals a week—helping more than three times as many people as the church used to feed!

The food they provide—including Family Food Boxes—is thanks to you and your support of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

More and more, our neighbors need help these days. And more people are helping . . . people like you.

The pastor, Rev. David Bryant, hopes this kind of community collaboration will continue even after the pandemic passes.

“There shouldn’t be any empty bellies in our community,” he says.

Each to-go box is filled with grilled chicken, white rice, and greens. Juanita puts the box in a plastic bag, hangs it on the doorknob, says a quick prayer, and leaves before anyone gets to the door.

And every week, Juanita finds thank-you cards in her mother’s mailbox from people she’s helped through your generous support.

The story of Juanita’s neighborhood is repeated over and over again across Chicago and Cook County. The requests for food are increasing significantly. But thanks to a generous matching challenge, every $1.00 you give will go further—providing 6 meals, which is critical at a time like this.

Thank you for helping provide food for neighbors who are in need.