Throughout the pandemic, Lakeview Pantry has been fortunate to have Bill Thomas making many tough decisions on the fly. This Friday, Thomas, 65, is retiring after an impressive career spanning more than four decades in the food industry and nonprofit sector, including a 10-year run at Feeding America.
In the Q&A interview, Thomas reflects on his career, a changing food industry and his time at Lakeview Pantry during the pandemic.
The following op-ed by our CEO, Kellie O’Connell, was originally published in the Chicago Tribune. You can also read the full article right here on our blog.
Thanks to Lakeview Pantry’s tireless volunteers, our distributions are serving more than three times more families with children compared to pre-pandemic times. Families who visited the Pantry before the holidays could receive a full month’s supply of groceries and also holiday gifts for their children. The festive toy room was well-stocked with board games, dolls, crafts, books and more — all brand new toys donated by kind supporters.
This holiday season, La Casa Norte’s Fresh Market — a partnership with Lakeview Pantry — is serving a growing number of people on Chicago’s West Side.
Though the economy has improved and the pandemic’s impact has slowed, many people are still trying to find their footing in the ongoing crisis. Visits to Lakeview Pantry’s food distributions are still up more than 60 percent as compared to pre-pandemic times.
Each person carries a unique story of hardship, grit and perseverance.
To provide a safe and supportive outlet for LGBTQIA+ people, Lakeview Pantry is launching “Queer in the Time of COVID,” a new mental health counseling group that will be offered virtually and at no cost. The hope is to provide a safe space for queer people to reflect on their respective challenges during the pandemic, which could include the loss of community spaces in which they feel safe.