Lakeview Pantry Executive Director Gary Garland has been selected as the 2012—2013 recipient of the St. Joseph Hospital’s C.A.R.E.S. Award.  St. Joseph Hospital has given this prestigious award to leaders who best demonstrate its core values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Service (C.A.R.E.S.) through their diligent service to the local community.  He was chosen to receive this honor as a result of his exemplary work toward eliminating hunger and poverty and providing self-empowering resources among the economically disadvantaged population of Lakeview.  He joins the ranks of such past recipients as community activist Christine Brown, philanthropist Bernard Beasley, and the Chicago Cubs organization.

“We are thrilled to present this year’s C.A.R.E.S. Award to Gary Garland.  Through his leadership, energy and compassion, Gary has worked tirelessly to make our community a better place. He truly exemplifies our core values,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk, M.D., CEO and executive vice president.

Gary has a long history in social service and advocacy.  He came to Lakeview Pantry in 1986 and was named the Pantry’s first executive director in 1996.  Lakeview Pantry’s Home Delivery program and a client services program designed to provide clients with additional resources to build better lives were two of Gary’s key initiatives.  Most recently in January 2012, Lakeview Pantry continued expanding its programs by creating the Education and Advocacy program. This program addresses the third pillar of the Pantry’s mission statement: Raising awareness of hunger and poverty and working towards solutions to eliminate them.  Lakeview Pantry and the services offered have expanded under Gary’s leadership over the last 26 years.

For over 20 years, Lakeview Pantry and Gary Garland have served the underserved and created a stable presence in the Lakeview community. With Gary’s leadership and support from over 5,000 donors, the Pantry will continue to stand as a beacon of hope for Lakeview’s neighbors in need.