North Center Common Pantry construction ceremony happening today; plans for spring opening
CHICAGO (CBS) -- It's a new beginning for an organization that's helped feed Chicago for more than 50 years.
Common Pantry on Friday kicked off the renovations of its new home in the North Center neighborhood, on Lincoln Avenue just south of Irving Park Road.
The nonprofit food pantry purchased the building in 2021, with the help of $1.5 million in state grants. It's Common Pantry's first building of its own, after getting its start inside Epiphany United Church of Christ in 1988.
"There's a lot of folks in our community that are missing and in need of help, and we're here, and we're focused on providing thid help," said Common Pantry board chairman Charles Herrig.
The new building used to be a restaurant, and is being remodeled to work better for the food pantry's various services.
In addition to handing out food, it will include a large communal and dining space, as well as a commercial kitchen, a grocery shopping area, and an outdoor courtyard.
"Food is really a human right. It really should not have anyone in the state of Illinois – or even in the world, really – trying to decide whether or not to pay a medical bill, or put food on their table. So Common Pantry serves a critical and important need in our community," said executive director Margaret O'Conor.
Common pantry hopes to be serving the community from its new location sometime this spring.
