Beyond the Food - Basic Necessities Project
Donation protected
Several years ago I started a food pantry at my church in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Our clientele has grown throughout the years but as with many organizations 2020 has proven to be quite challenging. Currently we distribute nearly 10,000 pounds of food each month and we need every bit of it.
As a volunteers, we get a chance to see the devastating affect COVID-19 is having on the community first hand. We are located on the Southside of Chicago in the Brainerd community, however our clients are from all over Cook County. Just like most pantries we have seen an uptick of people in need and those turning to the food pantry for help for the first time. The need however extends beyond food.
Many of the people we see each week are from marginalized black and brown communities where unemployment or underemployment is high. Every week we see more and more new people who have either recently lost their job or have had their hours reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no sign of a new stimulus package and people will lose their benefits at the end of this month without a new deal…making an already bad situation worse.
There are a number of pantries for food and clothing however the need for basic toiletries often gets overlooked and neglected. We have a solid resource for food, however there remains a huge gap when it comes to getting basic personal care and household items for those in need. These items many of us take for granted. Things like laundry detergent, sanitary products, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and soap have become a luxury for families who are already struggling just to make ends meet.
This is where community support comes in! We need your help. It is our goal to to raise enough money to provide basic necessities like laundry detergent, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, lotion and much more for 500 households to start right now.
Will you help us in our effort to provide basic necessities beyond food to those in need? No amount is too small. If this time has proven anything, it’s that a difference can be made if we’re all working shoulder-to-shoulder. If you can’t give, please share! If your employer is looking for somewhere local to donate, please pass us along! We can’t thank you enough for supporting our efforts and we hope to be able to continue serving this incredible neighborhood!
The funds will be used to buy the following items for distribution at the Shiloah Baptist Church weekly Food Pantry:
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Soap
Body Wash
Deodorant
Lotion/Vaseline
Chapstick
Pads/Tampons
Razors/shaving cream
Shampoo/Conditioner
Laundry Detergent/Fabric Softener
As a volunteers, we get a chance to see the devastating affect COVID-19 is having on the community first hand. We are located on the Southside of Chicago in the Brainerd community, however our clients are from all over Cook County. Just like most pantries we have seen an uptick of people in need and those turning to the food pantry for help for the first time. The need however extends beyond food.
Many of the people we see each week are from marginalized black and brown communities where unemployment or underemployment is high. Every week we see more and more new people who have either recently lost their job or have had their hours reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no sign of a new stimulus package and people will lose their benefits at the end of this month without a new deal…making an already bad situation worse.
There are a number of pantries for food and clothing however the need for basic toiletries often gets overlooked and neglected. We have a solid resource for food, however there remains a huge gap when it comes to getting basic personal care and household items for those in need. These items many of us take for granted. Things like laundry detergent, sanitary products, deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and soap have become a luxury for families who are already struggling just to make ends meet.
This is where community support comes in! We need your help. It is our goal to to raise enough money to provide basic necessities like laundry detergent, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, lotion and much more for 500 households to start right now.
Will you help us in our effort to provide basic necessities beyond food to those in need? No amount is too small. If this time has proven anything, it’s that a difference can be made if we’re all working shoulder-to-shoulder. If you can’t give, please share! If your employer is looking for somewhere local to donate, please pass us along! We can’t thank you enough for supporting our efforts and we hope to be able to continue serving this incredible neighborhood!
The funds will be used to buy the following items for distribution at the Shiloah Baptist Church weekly Food Pantry:
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Soap
Body Wash
Deodorant
Lotion/Vaseline
Chapstick
Pads/Tampons
Razors/shaving cream
Shampoo/Conditioner
Laundry Detergent/Fabric Softener
Fundraising team: The Basic Needs Project (2)
Kim White
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Pat Davis
Team member
