The expansion of the Neighborhood Networks represents our commitment to the south suburbs of Chicago – and furthers the impactful work driven by local nonprofits in the community. It’s also a testament to the power of partnerships – and what we can accomplish when we come together across different sectors.
The Southland community came together at the Tinley Park Convention Center on April 27 for April Food Day 2023. Thanks to generous donors and 150+ volunteers, more than 90,000 pounds of food was collected and distributed to 10 local food pantries, replenishing shelves in advance of the summer months when donations tend to wane – but the need remains.
For Monika Payne, April Food Day is a family affair. Each year, sporting a t-shirt with bold “LIVE UNITED” lettering on the front, Monika joins her brother and extended family at the Tinley Park Convention Center.
In addition to living in an area known as a “food desert,” Deborah was working on a tight budget. Instead of trying to stretch her dollars at the closest affordable store, she stopped at Blue Cap Pantry, a food bank serving Blue Island, Robbins and the surrounding communities each and every Tuesday. Housed in a bright, airy warehouse in Blue Cap’s building, the pantry opened last September to bring healthy food options to the region.
In an old, brick-walled gym flooded with morning sunlight, dozens of women sporting colorful workout clothes were breaking a sweat in Miguel Murillo’s Latin dance class. Following his lead, the women danced the Salsa, Mambo and Cha-Cha, mixed with Zumba and other hip-hop moves, as drum beats pulsed through the speaker system.