(We are also in need of volunteers to assist with preparing and serving meals and bag lunches; see “Volunteering” below.)
Mission
Monetary donations
Food donations
Volunteering
Meals 5 Days a Week
We are committed to feeding people five days a week:
Sunday Night Supper is served at Fourth Church from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., both outside by our Michigan Avenue courtyard and in Anderson Hall with limited seating (entry is from the courtyard). Food is distributed in “to go” boxes.
Monday Night Supper is served at Catholic Charities on North LaSalle Street, between Huron and Superior Streets, starting at 4:00 p.m. Both “to go” and limited inside seating options are available.
On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, bag lunches are served at Fourth Church between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in Anderson Hall, with limited seating (entry is through the glass doors on the north side of the Michigan Avenue courtyard). Guests can also take lunch to go.
Our Mission
The mission of Fourth Church’s Meals Ministry is to provide nutritious meals and welcoming hospitality for neighbors who are hungry, nurturing a sense of community among guests, volunteers, and partner organizations as we live out Fourth Church’s mission to be a light in the city.
Throughout the seasons of uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the needs of those already marginalized have been greater than ever. Thus even when other programs were on hiatus it has been a priority for Fourth Church that the meals served by Meals Ministry — as well as the emergency services of food and clothing provided by the Chicago Lights Social Service Center — continued to be available to those in need.
How You Can Help
In this time of meeting the increased needs of our neighbors, your generosity can provide critical support for Meals Ministry.
MONETARY DONATIONS
You can make a financial gift online and either designate your gift to Meals Ministry or, to support the various ways we are caring for our community, give to the general budget of the church.
You can also mail a check to the church (126 E. Chestnut St., Chicago, IL 60611), payable to Fourth Presbyterian Church. (If you want to designate it for Meals Ministry, simply note that in the memo line.)
FOOD DONATIONS
If you want to donate food, we ask that you order preferred items online (see below) and have them shipped directly from the distributor to the church (126 E. Chestnut St., Chicago, IL 60611). We cannot currently receive donations dropped off by individuals.
Meals Ministry has created lists of preferred items from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Costco.
These lists are set up to ship directly to Fourth Church sales-tax free: just click, pay, and ship!
VOLUNTEERING
Those interested in volunteering should sign-up to participate for specific projects on VOMO. Search VOMO projects for “Meals Ministry” or “Sunday Night” or “Monday Night” or “Bag Lunch” to easily find volunteer openings. Most Meals Ministry projects are updated and/or opened quarterly.
All Fourth Church volunteers serving in person must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you sign up to volunteer for any Meals Ministry opportunities please send a copy of your vaccination certification card to vaxproof@fourthchurch.org. Masks must also be worn at all times when working with Meals Ministry programs.
Sign up for our Meals Ministry email newsletter
For information about Meals Ministry, contact Mike Usiak (312.981.3599), Meals Ministry Manager.