Common Pantry

Attention!! We need some extra help making sure we have enough turkeys for everyone. Please consider buying a turkey (or two) and dropping it off at the pantry on Thurs (11/21) from 2:30-5pm, Fri (11/22) from 4-5:30pm, or Mon (11/25) from 9-11:30am OR do your holiday shopping at one of our partner Jewel-Oscos (Roscoe/Western or Lincoln) and donate at checkout. Let's make sure that all our neighbors can have a happy holiday! #community #partnerships #holidayseason #nonprofit

Last week our long time partners Paul Hastings invited us to their first year associate training where we were able to present about the work we do in Chicago. The associates also created 720 personal hygiene kits, full of toiletry items that we can provide to our guests the next time they shop. Partnerships like this one are critical to move our mission forward and grateful when it is full of intention to create a meaningful experience for all involved. #partnerships #strategy #philanthropy #CorporateSocialResponsibility #nonprofit

Mark your calendars for the biggest day of giving! Giving Tuesday is on December 3rd and only a few weeks away. Plan to kick off the holiday season by donating and helping our neighbors. #givingtuesday #fundraise #philanthropy #nonprofit

This past Friday, Common Pantry's staff, Margaret O'Conor and Laine Kaehler and Board Member Stephanie Willis-Bonner, attended The Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management's fall conference, More than Money: Philanthropy, Fundraising and Justice. Professional development for all team members are vital to ensure that everyone stays the most up to date and can apply what they learn to the work, it even better when our team can learn more about equitable fundraising and bring back tools to improve the organization. #professionaldevelopment #fundraising #equity #justice #philanthropy #nonprofit

Food recalls suck for anyone with having reduced options at the grocery store and needing to be concerned about your family's health and safety. Food recalls suck even more for us as it means that it can reduce our already limited inventory and require staff to be creative when assessing how to ensure our guests still get all the food they need. There's a trickle down effect that can greatly impact us but we will always value the safety of food that we provide our guests. Read the rest of the article here: https://lnkd.in/gqGT4ZbK #community #impact #expertise #nonprofit

A couple weeks ago we had the pleasure to host U.S. Representative Mike Quigley for a visit to see some of our programming in action. We welcome anyone and everyone to join us on a Wednesday afternoon for our hot lunch and Representative Quigley was no different. He pulled up a chair alongside our guests, joining in our community and discussing the issues and solutions that are most pressing. #foodjustice #community #partnerships #nonprofit

We're #hiring! We are looking for someone with a unique skillset, who will be able to help with the responsibilities that comes with owning our own building. If you're passionate about food access for all, working with a collaborative team, and interested in growing alongside, then please check out the description and steps to apply through our website under the "Get Involved" tab. Otherwise, please share among your networks!

Happy 5th anniversary to our Social Services Program Manager, Abby Greaney, LCSW, who changes the lives of our guests everyday. Abby joined the Common Pantry team just before COVID, becoming a frontline worker overnight and ensuring that we never skipped a distribution session. Through her calming demeanor and empathy, Abby is a true advocate for our guests, providing resources beyond food for our guests so they can address other challenges that may come up. Abby has had a vital role in how we have created our community through how she helps everyone with so much kindness and dignity. She has done so much not only for our guests but for Common Pantry overall. Congratulations Abby, we are grateful to have you! #anniversary #employee #congratulations #nonprofit #socialwork

We danced, we ate, we raised money to fight hunger! Thank you to everyone who came to our I Am Your Neighbor party last Friday. You supported Common Pantry, had fun while doing it, and we met our goal! A huge THANK YOU to our IAYN planning committee and all the volunteers day of that helped make the party so successful. We wouldn't have been able to do it without you. And if you missed the party but still want to give towards our hot lunch sponsorship or fund one of our needs, you still can! Visit https://lnkd.in/gkENWCf5 and choose how you'd like to support. P.S. If you want to see the photos from the night visit: https://lnkd.in/d6ZSw_VB P.S.S Save the date for our party next year: October 3, 2025.

Today marks one year of Lindsey Weston joining the Common Pantry team as our Operations Assistant. She has been a critical member of the team, keeping everything running smoothly as the demand for groceries increased since her start. Beyond keeping the pantry well stocked and organized (when she's not trying to juggle potatoes), Lindsey does so much more to prioritize our guests. Lindsey greets everyone with a welcoming smile and demeanor, easing people's stress and brightening their day. We are incredibly lucky to have Lindsey on our team. Congratulations Lindsey!! #anniversary #congratulations #nonprofit