Getting to Know... Elijah's Pantry
by Joe ScarryFor decades, St. Luke's has provided food assistance to families in Logan Square and Avondale through Elijah's Pantry, a collaborative ministry supported by a group of congregations across the Chicago area.The congregations supporting Elijah's Pantry have included:
- St. Luke's Park Ridge
- Trinity Lutheran Church (Evanston)
- St. Philip Lutheran Church (Glenview)
- St Luke's Logan Square
- Gloria Dei (Northbrook)
- Community of Christ Schaumburg
- Edgebrook Lutheran Church
- Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit (Lincolnshire)
Elijah's Pantry works in conjunction with the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD). The pantry serves people who live in the area bounded by Irving Park, Fullerton, Pulaski, and Western, and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. - 12 noon. For more information, contact Dea Checchin at (773) 772-2045.We spoke with Pat Kuhlman, a member of St. Luke's who has been volunteering with Elijah's Pantry since it started.Pat, how did the Elijah's Pantry get started?Elijah's Pantry came from humble beginnings -- it started out with the church secretary putting aside a shelf so that leftover canned goods could be shared with those in need. Today, we provide food assistance to 600 families each month!Who uses the pantry?People find the need to get help with food from the pantry for a variety of reasons, including: job loss, illness in the family, unexpected expenses, and others. It's important to note that people who come to get food assistance at the pantry are not asked why they need help; all are welcome.The area has lost several similar pantries in recent months. We are making a big effort to assure that everyone who needs assistance is able to get assistance.What should a person do if they want to get food from Elijah's Pantry?Come to St. Luke's (2649 N Francisco in Chicago, the right-hand door) on a Tuesday or Thursday between 10:00 a.m. and 12 noon. Bring proof of address, showing that you live in the area bounded by Irving Park, Fullerton, Pulaski, and Western. Each family is allowed to access the pantry once every month.What sorts of food are distributed on a typical day at Elijah's Pantry?Canned goods (fruit, vegetables, meat), fresh meat, fresh produce, cereals, pasta.How long has Elijah's Pantry been in operation?The pantry started in the '70s, and it's been going continuously since then. I guess that goes to show you that the need doesn't go away!How can people help? Do you have to be a member of St. Luke's?We welcome assistance from anyone! If someone has free time, we encourage them to come and assist with handling groceries and doing cleanup on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We also need help during the summer with produce pickups on other days.And of course, we always welcome financial assistance!What are some of the different ways people are involved in helping do the work of Elijah's Pantry?A lot of work goes into unloading, stacking, and shelving groceries; several volunteers concentrate just on bagging up groceries for our guests each time we do distribution. There is record-keeping and administration, supervision, and clean-up. And of course there are the people who actually do the pickup and delivery each time we take in food from the GCFD.You're managing a pretty big volume of food!Yes. In December, 2011, our delivery van, which we had used for 12 years to do pickups from GCFD, collapsed. We were faced with the need to replace it. For a short period we had to rent or borrow. There was even a time when we thought about using a shipping company like CSA Transportation, just so we could continue to deliver our goods to our customers, but we decided to continue with renting and borrowing. We're happy to report that in mid-January, we found a replacement that we could afford, and supporters in the community, seeing the need to keep Elijah's Pantry going, stepped forward with financial assistance to enable us to pay for and finance the van.We're realizing that we need to raise funds on an ongoing basis to assure that we have the equipment (van, freezers, etc.) that we need to continue to operate without interruption. We also must make sure that our van is mechanically safe and working correctly. That is why we must research and compile the best quotes from companies like fergusontruckcenter.com, where you can see website and go over their services so that we can choose the best for our van and for our company.What's the origin of the name "Elijah's Pantry"?It comes from a story in the Bible where someone was concerned that the food would run out, but God made sure that there was enough. It's similar to the story of the loaves and fishes in the New Testament, but this story comes from I Kings* in the Old Testament.What do you see as the relationship of Elijah's Pantry to the larger life of the St. Luke's community?Elijah's Pantry is an extension of our communion table -- a meal shared among the community. At the end of our worship every Sunday, the congregation turns to follow the cross as it's carried down the aisle and out the front door. That symbolizes for us that the faith we profess does not stop at the front door; it governs our actions outside.What are your hopes for the future of Elijah's Pantry?While we hope that people who need food assistance today will see a lessening of their need, we also recognize that tomorrow there will be other, different people who are in need. So we see a continued need to supply food assistance in the Logan Square and Avondale neighborhood.We welcome the support and contributions of the community, so that this work can continue!Thank you, Pat! And congratulations on your great work with Elijah's Pantry!Offerings or church office at St. Luke's can payable to "Elijah's Pantry". EP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit; gifts are tax-deductible.* 1 Kings 17:16 "There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah."