Staff and volunteers worked quickly to mop up over 12 gallons of water before clients arrived.

At first, it looked like repairs would take only a week and there would be no disruption to our scheduled distributions and food deliveries. As each section of tile and wall was painstakingly checked, it was found that a larger portion of the floors and walls had been affected by water than previously suspected.

On Tuesday, August 2, the pantry was closed for one day of operations as the full picture of the damage was being realized.

St. Alphonsus Church immediately offered to dedicate a portion of a nearby gymnasium for us to work out of. Our offices, food, tables and clients chairs were all moved in. Two days after the closure, we had set up shop, notified volunteers, improvised a plan for distribution and served clients.

We are so thankful for our hardworking and dedicated volunteers and staff who made it possibly to close for only one day. Our clients have been very patient, understanding and helpful to one another during this time of transition. Thanks to everyone for their support during this period of displacement, we look forward to the comfort of own space very soon.

The pantry is set to move back into our newly remodeled space at end of August.

Ta-Da!  Here it is, our revised logo, Lakeview Pantry’s new public “face.”  It is very similar to the now “old” logo, and that is deliberate. Lakeview Pantry intends to keep doing what you’ve come to love about us – be the best provider, in all of Chicago, of needed food to those struggling to secure sustenance for themselves and their families. But we want to shout loudly about what many of you already know – that we are more than a food pantry. Case management, health services, home-delivered food, advocacy, library cards, book clubs and so on!

You will often see four words: Community, Purpose, Health, and Stability accompany the logo.  These words state what else we seek to provide for those coming for help in addition to food, Now in our bag, along with food, are a heart & a key – visible symbolic reminders of those words.

Any visitor to our sites can quickly see that our primary mission remains getting food to our neighbors in need. But just as evident on such a visit is the broad range of additional services that we now provide to help clients to an even greater degree. Lakeview Pantry has grown over the past 41 years to be an even more effective anti-poverty organization – and now we have the logo to show it!

Garland compared the current food climate in Lakeview to a twist on a Charles Dickens quote saying, “It was the worst of times. It was the best of times.” He went on to tell the crowd how, despite consistently high numbers of clients facing hunger, Lakeview Pantry has been able to consistently meet their needs for food, as well as supplemental services like case management and advocacy.

Dan Laytin, vice president of the board of directors, spoke to new supporters telling them what they can expect if they become involved with the pantry. “I always come back to the GM commercial; Lakeview Pantry is professional grade,” he said. “You’ll get out a lot more than you put in.”

Thank you to all who organized and attended the event, and a special thanks to Ken Skolnik and the staff of Madron Gallery.

Each year we choose one of the many volunteers who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to highlight as our volunteer of the year. This year’s honoree is Chris Kertesz. Chris not only gives his time as a distribution and pick-up volunteer but also fostered our relationship with Green City Market, donates his expertise to the development department as a grant-writer, sits on a committee of the board and is a financial donor as well. You can get to know a little about Chris and his work with LVP by reading his Q & A below.

When and why did you start volunteering at Lakeview Pantry?
I signed on with the Pantry and a couple of other organizations about three years ago, looking for ways to stay connected with my community. More recently I have focused on the Pantry, because here the community connection seems strongest.

What is your overall impression of LVP?
It’s a great organization, and any great organization starts with a smart, dedicated staff. I am inspired by these people, as well as by my fellow volunteers.

How does LVP impact the community?
All you have to do to answer this question is come to the Pantry — either site — when it’s open for business, and you’ll see the impact. It is impressive.

What is your favorite part about volunteering?
This is a hard question to answer. I really enjoy getting out and meeting people who donate to the Pantry, and it’s also a pleasure to come in and work on site with staff and other volunteers. And seeing the reaction of our clients is very rewarding.

What advice would you give to a new volunteer?
Remember that every job here is important, a vital part of an operation that plays a major role in the lives of many people in our community. So work hard, and enjoy!

How does it feel to be volunteer of the year?
It feels great — and at the same time quite humbling, because I know that there are lots of other volunteers who could have been named for this honor.

Almost immediately, they offered to host an event to raise awareness about Lakeview Pantry.

About 60 people attended, including LVP supporters as well as the hosts’ neighbors and friends.

In typical party fare, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails were served. The LVP twist came via a speech by Executive Director Gary Garland followed by a Q&A about the pantry, hunger in the community and the changes in the neighborhood.

Director of Development June Dreznick described it as a high-energy event and said it was a nice mix of new and existing supporters. “It was a good way to introduce ourselves to new people and thank our existing supporters,” she said.

All of us at Lakeview Pantry would like to welcome Peter and Thom to the neighborhood and thank them for their generous support!

If you’re interested in hosting a similar event, you can email june@lakeviewpantry.org or call 773-525-1777 x.18.

Gary Garland speaking at the May 17th event