Submitted by Downtown Evanston

Downtown Evanston has organized a food drive to support two Evanston food pantries. After learning that two of Evanston’s local food pantries are running low on supplies, Downtown Evanston has reached out to businesses which immediately agreed to provide bins to collect items. Throughout March, businesses downtown will collect canned goods, snack items, and other non-perishable items. All donations will go to the food pantries at 2121 Dewey Ave. and Hilda’s Place at 1458 Chicago Ave.  

Last year, these two food pantries had more than 5,000 visits from Evanston residents. This year, the organizers expect higher numbers because SNAP benefits are being cut back to pre-pandemic levels, which will negatively impact households up to $255. 

The following businesses will accept food items through March. Please look for a large green plastic bin in the front of the business or ask a staff member. Suggested items include pantry staples like canned meat, canned fruit, individually wrapped snack items and other items like canned stew and canned ravioli.  

Participating Businesses 

  • Ayla’s Originals – 1511 Sherman Ave. (Wed-Sat, 11am-5pm; Sun. 12-4pm) 
  • Bookends and Beginnings – 1620 Orrington Ave. (Daily 11am-6pm) 
  • Celtic Knot Public House – 626 Church St. (Sun-Thurs, 4pm – 9pm; Fri-Sat, 4-10pm) 
  • Cupitol – 812 Grove St. (Daily 7am-4pm) 
  • Evanston Games and Cafe – 1610 Maple Ave. (Tues-Sun, 12-10pm) 
  • Five and Dime – 1026 Davis St. (Mon-Sat, 11:30-10pm; Sun, 11:30-9pm) 
  • Happy Lemon – 1607 Chicago Ave. (Sun-Thurs, 12-9pm; Fri-Sat, 12-10pm) 
  • La Cocinita – 1625 Chicago Ave. (daily 11:30am-8:30pm) 
  • Potbelly’s – 630 Davis St. (daily 9am-10pm) 
  • Pure Barre – 910 Church St. (Mon-Thurs, 6am-8:30pm; Fri 6:30-5:30pm; Sat-Sun, 8:30am-12:30pm) 
  • Wheel and Sprocket – 1027 Davis St. (Sun-Fri, 11am-7pm; Sat 10am-4pm) 

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  1. “All donations will go to the food pantries at 2121 Dewey and Hilda’s Place located at 1458 Chicago Avenue…”

    Both food pantries are operated by Connections for the Homeless…

    “Interestingly” a month ago, per the report below, Connections signed a “Good Neighbor Agreement”, with Mayor Biss in attendance, at the luxe LeTour restaurant in downtown Evanston. For the apparent money spent for this “celebration”, quite a few vittles could be provided for the needy who patronize both food pantries. As a former Connections for the Homeless employee, I know that both pantries are *very* heavily utilized, especially by families with young kids and seniors; quite often the pantries can get pretty bare before the next weekly donations from the Chicago Food Depository and other kind donors…

    https://evanstonroundtable.com/2023/02/08/biss-homeless-group-leader-sign-margarita-inn-agreement/

    “After five in-person meetings, seven drafts and four months of work, Mayor Daniel Biss and Connections for the Homeless Chief Executive Officer Betty Bogg signed the final Good Neighbor Agreement for the Margarita Inn homeless shelter during a celebration at LeTour Wednesday evening…”

    FYI here is the LeTour menu, a modest repast can approach the hundred dollar mark – and one can spend hundreds on caviar and $175.00 for a “LES FRUITS DE MER PLATTER”…

    https://www.letourevanston.com/menus/

    Respectfully,
    Gregory Morrow – Evanston 4th Ward resident

    Reply