Senator Durbin, Congressman Quigley, Alderman Cappleman Join Lakeview Pantry for Groundbreaking

August 6, 2015 - (Chicago, Ill.) – Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Mike Quigley and Alderman James Cappleman joined Lakeview Pantry for a groundbreaking celebration on Thursday, August 5 to mark the beginning of demolition and rehab on its new building at 3945 N. Sheridan Road in Chicago.

“Lakeview Pantry is a place where the entire Lakeview community comes together to ensure that everyone has enough,” 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman said at the ceremony. “As we mark the start of construction on Lakeview Pantry’s first permanent home in our neighborhood, we also celebrate Lakeview and all of the neighbors, volunteers and donors gathered here who have made this building possible.”

The celebration marks the beginning of a new chapter in the 45-year history of Lakeview Pantry. Founded in 1970, the Pantry has provided emergency food assistance and other critical services in the Lakeview neighborhood because of the support of its neighbors. The Pantry distributes more than 1.6 million pounds of food a year to those living in the area bordered by Montrose on the north, Fullerton on the south, Damen on the west and Lake Michigan on the east.

Recognizing that it had outgrown its longtime home at 3831 North Broadway, the Pantry launched a capital campaign in 2012 to raise more than $3 million to fund its first ever property acquisition and build-out. To date 86 percent of the capital campaign for the property has been funded. A majority of the gifts have come from individuals and organizations with strong ties to the Lakeview community – many of whom also volunteer at the organization.

“The purchase of this building has truly a community effort,” said Gary Garland, Lakeview Pantry’s Executive Director. “At nearly twice the size of the current Lakeview Pantry Broadway location, the new building allows us to continue to distribute fresh fruits, vegetables, bread and other staples to our neighbors in need. Most importantly, this new building means that Lakeview Pantry has a permanent place in the neighborhood to carry out our mission.”

In partnership with IFF, a not-for-profit real estate lender and consulting organization, Lakeview Pantry will work with architecture firm Wheeler Kearns to design the interior space and Friedler Construction to complete the build-out of the property.

The building’s first floor will house food distribution operations. The second floor will feature private meeting spaces, allowing caseworkers to meet with clients to assess food, healthcare and housing needs. Workspace for Lakeview Pantry’s staff of approximately 12 also will be located on the second floor.

The target date for completion of the design and build-out is June 2016.

About Lakeview Pantry

Lakeview Pantry’s mission is to eliminate hunger in the community by: providing food to fill the basic need of hungry people, increasing the independence of clients through self-help initiatives and other innovative programs and raising awareness of hunger and poverty and working towards solutions to eliminate them.

Who and How Lakeview Pantry Serves

Lakeview Pantry serves more than 4,400 households annually. In the Lakeview neighborhood, nearly 1 in 9 individuals struggles with poverty and food insecurity. In 2014, the organization distributed approximately 1.6 million pounds of food via its Broadway and Oakdale locations and home delivery program. Lakeview Pantry staff and volunteers also assist clients in obtaining other needed social services such as employment, healthcare, housing and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) benefits. For more information about Lakeview Pantry, visit www.lakeviewpantry.org.