End of year support - please consider CHI

Dear Friend, Well. Never a dull moment. We will likely go into 2026 not knowing the extent of change, or even the direction, of the Federal funding that sustains so much of the shelter care and low income food systems in our City. But we already know it’s in turmoil. There will be changes to food benefits, including who and how much, changes to who gets shelter in winter, who gets a housing unit, changes to USDA purchases for food pantries and changes to other things, no doubt. We will not change. We will continue to function without government money and to care without politics. CHI will remain a haven for those in difficulty to get resources, to find fellowship, and to begin to move ahead again. Funding will no doubt emerge as an issue in the coming years. Organizations that once relied on the federal system will turn to private and local sources. That’s necessary. These organizations, like shelters and the larger food pantries, are partners that really matter to the welfare of the people we serve. But at the same time, tighter resources will make things tougher on us and other small organizations – in everything from direct funding to food rescue. There are twice as many community supported meals in Chicago as there are government subsidized community meals. This is a City that has always cared about each other. We will stay lean and focused on what we do best – food, connections and resources. Everything we do starts and ends around a good meal in a safe place – just like it always has for so many families and communities. Please consider us if you are planning end of year donations! Thank you! Doug F