2022 Grant Recipient Check Presentations and Features

Chicago Shares has completed its 2022 Grant Awards Program. Of the many organizations carrying out initiatives to address food insecurity and hunger in the City of Chicago, several that applied had programs and approaches that were especially impactful. Please see below for a review of the grant check presentations.

The Chicago Help Initiative

The Chicago Help Initiative team prepares the Wednesday meal for takeout and dining in at the Catholic Charities facility on LaSalle Street. Doug Fraser, Director of CHI receives the Chicago Shares grant check and Shares from new CS board member Susan Gold and Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director.

Stone Temple MB Church

At Stone Temple MB Church, Pastor Reshorna Fitzpatrick graciously shows Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director, some of the church-sponsored activities:  fresh produce is distributed to local residents, community vegetable gardens are cultivated in raised beds, church members grill up donated chicken and ribs for area residents.  Across the street, a coffee shop is coming to life and soon a cut flower stand as well!   

Young Men's Educational Network

Kimberly George, Young Men's Educational Network staff member, accepts a grant check from Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director, as Marcell Pickett looks on. This grant will help support their important work with youth and support their new "good grills" project, enabling them to loan out professional size smoker/grillers to area organizations for summer barbecue parties. 

Care for Real

Care for Real, a Rogers Park-based food pantry and services organization, utilizes dozens of volunteers to assist with food distribution and logistics for their growing program (increased by 76% since the pandemic). Monique Fouant, a board member and Julie Stagliano, Executive Director of Chicago Shares, present a grant check to Jen Touba, Director of Development and Communications and Gregory Gross, Executive Director, to help support their programs.   

Dion's Chicago Dream

Elizabeth Kohlbeck, a Chicago Shares board member, and Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director, observe Dion Dawson stocking the "Love Fridge," a source of fresh produce for anyone in need. Dion is a social entrepreneur and founder of Dion's Chicago Dream. He is working to combat food insecurity and the "food desert" scourge by delivering fresh produce boxes to potentially 700 clients every week.

St. Vincent DePaul Conference of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Ron Polaniecki, President of Chicago Shares, visits the Jefferson Park Blue Line Station to present a 2022 Chicago Shares Grant to the St. Vincent DePaul Conference of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. This group of St. Vincent DePaul volunteers was at the Station providing help for needy folks.

Mission of Our Lady of the Angels

Sister Laura of the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels receives a grant from Julie Stagliano. The Mission of Our Lady of the Angels serves thousands of needy clients in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood with healthy and fresh foods.

Congratulations to all of the
​2022 Chicago Shares Grant recipients!