Vineyard Food Pantry, tucked into a corner of Evanston near James Park, works to provide a variety of accessible food and other supplies for those in need. On most Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m., the volunteers and team at Vineyard distribute necessary goods, and are a crucial part of the community for many.
Nearing its 20th year of operation, the food pantry operates through the Vineyard Church as a part of a collection of programs started by their restorative justice ministries. The pantry works alongside a clothing closet, which sells donated clothes for $1 each week, and a resource center, which holds a consultation once a month. These ministries are designed to connect people with what they require, whether that be cheap clothing from the closet or opportunities for work or housing from the resource center.
Of all the many services that Vineyard provides, their food pantry is the biggest. Through association with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the pantry receives tons of food items ready for distribution on a regular basis.
“Thousands of pounds each week,” said Keva Green, pastor and overseer of the restorative justice ministry at Vineyard church.
This food is ordered, sorted and prepped by the church so that it is ready each Wednesday. However, the food available at Vineyard is more than just the food provided by the GCDF. Through partnerships with both local farms and bakeries, Vineyard can supply both fresh and baked goods through their pantry.
Vineyard has also served as a valuable asset during the recent scare with SNAP funding.
“A couple of weeks ago, people were really concerned about their SNAP benefits. We had a bunch of new people who are using the food pantry for the first time come towards us. They were referred to by a lot of their social workers or any organizations that they were connected to,” Stated Green. “They’re saying, ‘I can’t make my money stretch this month if I’m not going to get these benefits to eat for myself and for my family.’ [The food pantry] has been a really beautiful way to be a stopgap for people who just need a little bit of margin.”
Because the food pantry requires no qualification for use, those who wouldn’t have been able to get by without their SNAP benefits, like refugee and other food-insecure families in the community, were able to depend on Vineyard for some of their monthly groceries.
The work that goes into providing the pantry, closet, and resource center is certainly no piece of cake. Each week, around 40 volunteers come together to prepare the food, clothes, and room for the evening. In 2024, Vineyard had 300 new volunteers, including students from ETHS, Loyola, and other high schools and colleges.
“I’ve had good experiences with the food pantry,” said ETHS sophomore and volunteer William Edwards. “The main helpers are very nice and organized, so you never really feel lost. There are several jobs for volunteers to do, so every experience is different. Volunteers help customers shop, restock shelves, and more to keep it running.”
Volunteers are truly the powerhouse behind the food pantry and other resources assisting the community, and help is always appreciated at Vineyard. For any students interested in volunteering, you can get in contact through their website at evanstonvineyard.org.
