When Father Michael Pfleger received the news from Catholic Charities that they were closing the food pantry in Auburn Gresham in September 2024, he knew he had to do something to ensure that people had access to food.
“Because we know the desperate need for food in our community, we announced on Oct. 1 we would take over the social service without a plan or without the money to operate it, but with a whole lot of faith,” Pfleger said during a press conference on Oct. 14 celebrating the pantry’s first anniversary or being operated by St. Sabina Parish.
The parish quickly learned that it would cost $425,000 to operate the food pantry, which includes paid staff.
“But we did so because our faith reminds us that faith without works is dead. And whatever we do to the least of our sisters and brothers we do for God,” he said.
In less than a month, Pfleger rallied the community and reopened the pantry as St. Sabina Social Service Center, 1120 W. 79th St., which has since served over 40,000 people from the Auburn Gresham and neighboring communities five days a week. That is more people than the previous pantry served, Pfleger said.
Food comes from the Chicago Food Depository, along with donations from their sharing parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glenview, and local stores as part of a food rescue program. As at other pantries, guests can choose their own fresh fruit or vegetables, pre-packed food or meat as they would at a grocery store.
The food pantry has expanded into a one-stop center where clients can also receive services such as mental health counseling and utility assistance.
Pfleger hosted the anniversary celebration in part to ask for more financial support for the food pantry.
“Brothers and sisters, we are in a very divided, polarized country, but at the very least, all of us should agree that every single man, woman and child ought to be able to eat,” Pfleger said. “With the growing number of homeless, the high price of groceries in stores and the looming promise of this administration to cut SNAP and Medicare, we know that our numbers will grow.”
While the number of people needing food will likely increase, Pfleger said, sources for food will not.
“We are likely to run out of food with the new numbers that are coming and not be able to feed people,” he said. “The worst thing in the world is to have people come to a pantry and be told that our shelves are now empty until the next delivery.”.
Tim Allison, director of the food pantry, made a plea for support during the press conference.
“These are times when we need help,” Allison said. “We service the community. We do great work. However, we still need your help.”
Each pantry guest is treated with respect, he said.
“Keep us in your prayers,” Allison added. “We’re here and we ain’t going nowhere.”
Natasha McClendon receives benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and first came to the pantry in December. While she and her husband both work part-time jobs, they do not have enough money to support themselves and the two children who live with them.
“The pantry helps me and my family because I’m one of the millions of working people who now has to provide proof that we’re working in order to keep our SNAP benefits,” she said. “Right now, the SNAP benefits I get are not enough to feed four people.”