Chicago Fun Volunteers

The Woodlawn Community Food Pantry is fully operated by volunteer members of the Chicago Alumni Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity with support from the The Greater Chicago Food Depository. They have been operating for over a year as an outdoor mobile and is now a full service indoor/outdoor pantry with more food items.
The pantry distribution takes place every Monday at the Edward G. Irvin Achievement Center in one of the most under-served neighborhoods in out city.

Volunteers will help put cans and boxed food in shopping bags and pack fresh produce and frozen meat and distribute them to pantry clients.
This is a hybrid outdoor in the summer and indoor (in their huge basketball stadium) when weather is too cold.

Event Date: Every Monday afternoon
Event Time: 2 pm to 6:15 pm
Location: Edward G. Irvin Achievement Center
500 E. 67th Street, Chicago, IL 60638

Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/RS4zRNpvKcPHZM4f9

Shift time is flexbile, you can come and leave as it fits your schedule
Time line: 2 pm to 4 pm: pack grocery bags
4 pm to 6 pm, public distribution to clients
6 pm to 6:15 pm, clean up, recycle boxes, put unused food away.

Please don't feel you need to lift anything heavier than you feel comfortable doing. Your safety is our highest priority. We work in teams so nobody will feel stressed by doing more than then can physically do. This will be a very fun and friendly project to get to know your fellow volunteers and some new neighbors in our city. Your time and kindness will be deeply appreciated by over two hundred families in the Woodlawn neighborhood, who may otherwise go hungry during this winter. Your attendance is very important to ensure the success of this pantry project.

There is plenty of free parking on the adjacent side streets such as Marquette and Rhodes Ave. Please observe any parking sign restrictions or fire hydrants.

What you should know:

1. The event can be held outside, or inside in their large gymnasium.
2. Social Distancing markers are placed to minimize contact between Volunteers and the Clients.
3. Org will fill-in the registration information from the Clients. No need for the Clients to touch the pens or the sheets.

Best Practices

1. All Volunteers must wear PPE (Face Mask, Gloves) at all times. Protective Eyewear is also a good idea. Gloves and masks will be provided for you.
2. If you have any flu like symptoms, or think you are infected or have been exposed to somebody who are infected with COVID-19, please do not come. Stay home and self quarantine, seek medical advice from your doctor. Join us after 14 days or when you have fully recovered . Take care of yourself first. Thank you.

If driving from the North or West sides of the city take the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94 East) to 71st Street. Turn Left (East) onto 71st Street and travel 6 blocks to King Drive. Turn Left (North) on King Drive and travel 4 blocks to 67th Street. Take the 2nd or wide Right Turn (East) onto 67th Street to 500 E. 67th Street (Just past the Fire Station at the Stop sign).

Come help support a food pantry in West Humbolt Park, with Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. In response to COVID-19, the nuns at this mission have seen a triple increase in food needs and hunger from the community (they are currently helping 600 families a week). This is a safe, outdoor, socially-distanced food distributions. Volunteers will help setup tables and food and pass them out to our friendly and grateful neighbors who may be going through a hard time during this pandemic. You can make a difference in their lives by sharing some hope and kindness with them.

Volunteers are needed starting at 7:30 am. The first 2 hours are the busiest with positioning the food and tables. If you cannot make the full project time, coming late or leaving early is still helpful, just leave a message below to let us know if you have to adjust your shift time. Please help with clean up and break down, recycling after the event. While the nuns at this mission are of Catholic faith, they serve families of all faiths in the community and you do not need to be Catholic to volunteer and help. You should come with an open mind and attitude of respect and tolerance.

During the pandemic response, additional rules are implemented for everybody's safety:

• Volunteers must be between the ages of 18 and 65
• You cannot work in healthcare or live with someone who works in healthcare (we are praying for all healthcare workers but need to keep the pantry safe!)
• It must be at least 14 days since you’ve attended a protest
• You don’t think you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 otherwise
• Bring your own mask
• You MUST RSVP to olamission@gmail.com. Volunteers who do not RSVP will not be allowed to volunteer.

**** IMPORTANT ******
This is a COVID-!9 response to help the community. All safety protocols must be followed to ensure everybody's safety. Only sign up if you can answer NO to all the following questions:

1. Have you experienced any flu or cold like symptoms in the last 14 days?
2. Have you traveled to any high risk states on Chicago's quarantine list in the last 2 weeks? https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid-19/home/emergency-travel-order.html
3. Have you been in contact with anybody that is tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days or exhibit COVID-19 symptoms?
4. Have you been tested positive COVID-19, suspect or know you have the virus in the last 30 days?
5. Do you have a fever over 100 degrees now?
6. Do you have a dry cough now?
7. Do you have any other reasons to think you are sick or may be infected with COVID-19?

**** IMPORTANT ******

If you answer yes to any of the questions, I respectfully ask you to stay home and attend to your own care and follow CDC's guidelines for self quarantine and speak to a doctor to see if you need to get tested. Your healthy and safety is the highest priority.

If you answer no to all the questions above, then we would love to have your help, as hundreds of family are in need of food in the neighborhood.

Time: every Tuesday morning from 7:30 am to Noon
Location: Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (school building)
3814 W. Iowa St., Chicago, IL 60651
Google map link: https://goo.gl/maps/t8tiwzTiPB3pXs6m6

Some free street parking in surrounding residential streets. Near CTA bus routes.

About the organizations:
The Mission of Our Lady of the Angels establishes a Catholic presence in the West Humboldt Park area on Chicago’s west side.

This area is presently one of the poorest neighborhoods in the City of Chicago. The purpose of the Mission is twofold: to assist the materially poor and to share the treasure of our Catholic Faith.

ASSISTANCE TO THE MATERIALLY POOR INCLUDES:
Food Pantries,
Distribution of Clothing/ Household Goods,
Emergency Assistance
Afterschool Programming
Senior Citizens' Programming-
Community Dinners
Special Holiday Events

For more information: please visit: https://missionola.com

Want to help those in need during the pandemic? Putting together bagged meals is a great way to make a difference.
The Chicago Help Initiative coordinates volunteers to make and deliver thousands of bag meals every week to different sites throughout the city.

What’s in a bag meal?
• Sandwich
• Piece of fruit (soft fruits preferred like bananas or oranges)
• Snack (Chips, granola bar, etc)
• Drink (bottled water or juice)
• Feel free to add more or get fancy!

This is an “on your own” event. You will purchase the components and assemble the meals in your home on your own time. Feel free to be creative – turkey with cranberry sauce, hot paninis, or plain PB&J – all are appreciated!

Drop off at the locations listed below, or we may be able to pick up your fully assembled bagged meals at your location. (Message the event organizer in advance to arrange pickup). Drop off sites maintain social distancing….pop your trunk and an on-site volunteer will take the prepared bagged meals directly from your vehicle.

Where, when, and how to deliver your bag meals:
9:30am – 10:30am Saturdays - 721 N. LaSalle Street

For more about the Chicago Help Initiative, visit http://chicagohelpinitiative.org/

Contact the Meeting Organizer if you have any questions....happy to chat through the logistics!

Join us every Sunday morning to help make and distribute bagged lunches that include salads, sandwiches, and more to the hungry/homeless throughout Chicago.

We make and package the food in the center, and then distribute it outside in the city, so dress according to the weather.

Entrance is right in front of the Jackson red line stop, and a block away from the Harold Washington library.

Follow us on Instagram @dic_nbrshelpingnbrs

All are welcome!