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 COVID-19 caused a few of our long-time Chicago Shares’ participating Loop area “sandwich shop” eateries to close.
So, our board contacted Jewel Osco's corporate office and asked for assistance in signing up more stores as accepting merchants. Jewel's response was to enroll 14 additional stores -- bringing our total up to 20 that now accept Chicago Shares vouchers. However, our work is not done! For example, we’re looking forward to adding Jewel Osco Stores on the South side of Chicago. Further, as we return to more normal times, we’ll want to sell Shares at various churches in the neighborhoods that have participating Jewel stores. What’s more, we’ll plan to sign up small eateries (“sandwich shops”) as program participants when COVID restrictions are lifted and life returns to normal in all parts of the city. Finally, we’ll need a team of volunteer ambassadors to occasionally check-in with our network of Jewel Osco Stores and to suggest other stores that might participate – and churches that would be willing to sell vouchers. For now:
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Chicago Shares’ 2020 Ad in Streetwise11/15/2020 Chicago Shares is happy to announce that our program will be featured in Streetwise in November and December. Below is our new ad.
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We are sad to have learned that Mac Kelly's Greens n' Things eateries are permanently closing. The owners do not believe they can survive the financial impact the coronavirus will have on their business. Mac Kelly's has been an outstanding supporter and friend of the Chicago Shares program -- consistently and respectfully serving the many needy who have gone there with Chicago Shares vouchers. Mac Kelly's oatmeal and make-your-own salads were among their first-rate, healthy offerings.
Mac Kelly's began accepting Chicago Shares in late 2005 and have been a program stalwart. May God bless the Mac Kellys owners, managers and employees for their concern for the needy. Mac Kelly's locations: 123 W. Madison Street, and 1347 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
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To help spread the word about Chicago Shares, two volunteers, Ron Polaniecki (president) and Elizabeth Kohlbeck (director) joined Chicago Radio co-host Father Greg Sakowicz (rector, Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, and a member of the Chicago Shares Board of directors) in a discussion about how the program works, where it got started and why it is both unique and important.
Just click on the "Listen Button" under the heading: "Chicago Shares/Rector's Christmas Concert," Thursday, December 12, 2019
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 Deacon Tim Sullivan (left), St. Clement Parish, Chicago, receives resolution electing him honorary member of the Board of Directors of Chicago Shares, from Ron Polaniecki, Chicago Shares president. The resolution cites Deacon Tim's tireless commitment to serving the needy in the St. Clement community area and his ongoing support of the Chicago Shares program. The presentation was made June 14 at the regular St. Clement's "Friday Morning Hospitality," which is part of its "Sack Lunch Program" for the needy in the neighborhood.
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Chicago Shares board members presented grant award checks to the 2019 Chicago Shares Grant recipients. View a list of grant recipients. Below are photos of the check presentations at various organizations. Breakthrough Shown in photo, from left to right: Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director; Arloa Sutter, Executive Director of Breakthrough. Fourth Presbyterian Church Shown in photo, left to right: Mary McFarlane, Chair, Steering Team; Alison Thomas, Past Chair; Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director; Mike Usiak, Meals Ministry Coordinator; Vicky Curtiss, Associate Pastor for Mission; Elizabeth Kohlbeck, Board Member, Chicago Shares. Chicago Help Initiative Shown in photo, left to right: Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director; Jacqueline Hayes, CHI Founder; and Doug Fraser, Executive Director. At Wednesday night supper. Catholic Charities Presenting check to grantees at Wednesday night supper held at Catholic Charities. Mental health counseling, HIV testing and public health assessments and other services are offered to the guests by medical personnel volunteers. Data is collected to assist with tracking the homeless populations in Chicago. Shown in photo, left to right: Phillip Buta, Catholic Charities; Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares; and Kathy Donahue, Catholic Charities. Care for Real Nancy Meyerson, chairman of Care for Real, Chicago (left), receives grant award from Ron Polaniecki, president, Chicago Shares. Franciscan Outreach Franciscan Outreach staff Stuart Kipnis, Grants Manager and Darryl Robinson, Interim Director of Shelters accept a CS grant check from Executive Director Julie Stagliano.  Chicago Shares Executive Director Julie Stagliano presents grant award to Kaitlyn Donnelly, Coordinator of Foundation and Corporate Relations at The Night Ministry.
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Chicago Shares Featured on WNDZ Radio5/18/2019 Chicago Shares was recently featured on the "Catholic Chicago" radio show, WNDZ, 750 AM. Listeners were given an overview of the program, including how and where to buy and distribute vouchers
To listen to the discussion, please visit the radio show's website here. In Month of May/Chicago Shares section, click on "Download" for an MP3 file of the show. Additionally, the podcast link is available here. The Chicago Shares segment begins at 33:45 (you can "fast forward" to this point by sliding the timing bar). Thank you to WNDZ for featuring our organization and highlighting ways to help the hungry in Chicago.
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Chicago Shares featured on WGN TV News1/18/2019
WGN TV News recently featured Chicago Shares during its broadcast and on its website.
The clip below highlights how our program works, and features interviews with Ron Polaniecki, President of Chicago Shares, and Max Khan, owner of Max's Take Out, a restaurant that accepts Chicago Shares.
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Chicago Shares’ Ad in Streetwise2/1/2018 We were lucky to once again be promoted in Streetwise recently. The ad below ran in late 2017. 
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“We’re so grateful for your help in supporting those in need.” That’s the strong and reoccurring theme of the responses received to the Chicago Shares announcement of its 2016 grants.
Chicago Shares, a unique Chicago not-for-profit founded in 1993, provides meals to the hungry through a voucher program. Each year a certain percentage of the vouchers purchased by generous people are never redeemed, thus providing a reserve of funds from which grants are made. Recently, Chicago Shares announced that it is providing $15,000 in grants to 10 Chicago area not-for-profits that subscribe to a “help-the-needy” mission. Grant recipients have underscored that these grants are particularly welcome now as other resources including state and local funding continue to dwindle. Here are the 2016 grant recipients: Lincoln Park Community Shelter 600 W. Fullerton Parkway Chicago, IL 60614 http://www.lpcsonline.org/ Breakthrough 402 North Saint Louis Avenue Chicago, IL 60624 http://www.breakthrough.org/ Care for Real 5339 N. Sheridan Road Chicago, IL 60640 http://careforreal.org/ Pacific Garden Mission 1458 S. Canal Street Chicago, IL 60607 https://www.pgm.org/ Fourth Presbyterian Church 126 E. Chestnut Chicago, IL 60611 http://fourthchurch.org/ Common Pantry 3744 N. Damen Chicago, IL 60618 http://commonpantry.org/program/ Society of St. Vincent DePaul 10525 Delta Parkway Schiller Park, 60176 http://commonpantry.org/program/ The Chicago Help Initiative 440 N Wells Street, Suite 44 Chicago, IL 60654 http://chicagohelpinitiative.org/ Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Chicago 721 N. LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60654 http://www.catholiccharities.net/ Franciscan Outreach 1645 W. LeMoyne Chicago, IL 60622 https://www.franoutreach.org/ Chicago Shares vouchers (which cannot be used for alcohol or tobacco) are safe, convenient, and easy to use. They enable generous Chicagoans to help the needy person-to person in a dignified way. Chicago Shares has always been a volunteer program, which means there are no paid staff. For more information on where Chicago Shares are sold and where they can be redeemed (plus information on becoming a volunteer or a merchant), please email us at chicagoshares@gmail.com, or visit http://chicagoshares.com/ |