Did you know approx 1.5 million people - 12.2 percent of the total population
in Illinois now lives in poverty?
Did you know according to the USDA, 11.1 percent of Illinois households
face food insecurity?
Did you know there are approximately 40,000 homeless people in Chicago?
Here at St. Vincent de Paul Parish we do our part to address hunger in our community by serving a morning meal
Monday through Saturday at our sandwich kitchen to an average of 120 guests per day.
This is equivalent to serving 33,000 meals annually.
This program is operated by volunteers and is 100% funded by monetary contributions and
donations of food items made by parishioners and community individuals throughout the year.
St. Vincent’s Parish does not subsidize the meals program in any financial way.
We are fortunate to get pastries and bread donated by Dominick’s, Costco,
Strack and Van Til, and Little Sisters of the Poor.
Nearly 30 years ago, our sandwich kitchen consisted of a window service manned by two volunteers,
serving coffee & snacks to approx 50 guests each morning.
Since that time we have expanded our operation to include a dining room where guests are able to
sit down and enjoy a full meal which includes a sandwich, pastry, and coffee.
Chips, fruit, soup and chili are also served when available.
Since last year we have been experiencing several challenges.
These include reduced monetary donations, increases to food and supply costs,
an increase to the number of guests requiring food assistance, and the replacement of capital
items to run the operation (e.g., refrigerator, coffee maker, air conditioner, ice maker, tables).
As a result of these challenges, we have been faced with tough decisions,
including eliminating certain food items such as chips, fruit, soup and chili.
Unfortunately these are only temporary fixes as our overall needs are much greater
than the donations and contributions we are taking in.
Monetary donations are a must if we hope to continue to provide even the basics of a daily meal,
which include coffee, a sandwich and a pastry.
Our mission at St. Vincent de Paul Parish is to serve those in need with dignity and respect.
The sandwich kitchen provides a means of accomplishing this goal.
The following are testimonials from four guests (Leonard, Susan, Eddie, and Faith)
explaining how the sandwich kitchen is important in their daily lives…
Why do you come and why do you keep coming?
Leonard: Because the food is good as well as the volunteers who serve it.
Susan & Eddie: Because being homeless and out on the streets, we need to get something in our stomachs.
The people are extremely friendly, kind and wonderful.
What is most important to you about the sandwich kitchen?
Leonard: The people are very good here and will do all they can to help you if they can.
Susan & Eddie: It puts some hot coffee and some food in our stomachs.
If it wasn't for the sandwich kitchen, I don't know what we would do to eat. We wouldn't have anything.
Are you able to work? If so, do you have a job or prospects of work?
Leonard: Yes I am able, but I do not have a job at this time and am looking for work.
Susan & Eddie: No, I have C.D.P.D. and a lot of medical problems. My husband has to be with me.
Do you have a place to stay/live each night?
Leonard: I am homeless, but I stay at Pacific Garden Mission
Susan & Eddie: No place right now. That's what makes it hard.
We have a case pending with Social Security for assistance.
Now that you are a regular volunteer, Faith,
how do you view the sandwich kitchen and its importance?
Faith: I view it as being an experience of a lifetime because I have to deal with all kinds of people
when I volunteer including all types of different attitudes, some good, some not so good.
In all I love volunteering very much.
Why did you come to the pantry as a guest in the past?
Faith: Because I loved the food that was served and the people serving the food were very nice to me.
What was most important to you about the sandwich kitchen?
Faith: I depended on it when I didn't have food in my kitchen which was a big help to me.
I sometimes now share with others now that I am on the other side.
As mentioned above, the sandwich kitchen is 100% financed through donations
made by parishioners and community individuals.
We are prudent with our finances in that each meal costs under $1.50 per guest.
Here is a breakdown of our daily/annual needs and costs associated:
Coffee, hot chocolate, creamer and sugar
– serving 250 cups per day, weekly cost of $500 ($26,000 annually)
Bread for the sandwiches
– 60 loaves per week with a cost of $60.00 weekly ($3,000 annually)
Deli meat and cheese
– to make 600 weekly sandwiches with a weekly cost of $150 ($7,800 annually)
Pastries
– Donated daily by Dominick’s and Costco
Soup
– Served daily from November through April, $150 weekly ($4,550 annually)
Fruit
– Served daily from May through October, $125.00 weekly ($3,000 annually)
Chili
– Served on Saturdays with an annual cost of $4,000
Napkins, paper plates, coffee cups
– weekly cost of $100 ($5,200 annually)
We need your financial help to continue serving our daily meal at our sandwich kitchen to the hungry in our community.
During the weekend of
Sept. 24 - 25th, we will be celebrating the
Feast of St. Vincent de Paul.
There will be a second collection during that weekend dedicated specifically
for raising funds for the sandwich kitchen.
Our goal is to raise $10,000, which will allow us to remain open six days a week
and serve a healthy meal to our 120 daily guests.
All donations are tax deductible.
If you are not able to contribute that weekend and still would like to make a monetary donation,
we accept them year round.
You can send it to the parish center with checks made payable to St. Vincent’s Food Pantry.
We appreciate your kindness and generosity.
