Ravenswood Community Services

First Fridays Food Drive: Support needed as SNAP cuts begin. It’s time for another First Fridays Food Drive to support @rcschicago ! Donate TODAY Friday, May 1 through Thursday, May 7 at convenient drop-off locations around the neighborhood: -4404 N Paulina -4450 N Wolcott -1620 W Sunnyside -4639 N Wolcott -4730 N Winchester -4837 N Hermitage This food drive specifically supports RCS’ After School Pantry program, which provides food distribution at nearby schools during dismissal. We accept all donated items, but the priority list includes: -Plastic jars of peanut butter (18 oz) -Mac and cheese box kits (7oz) -Oatmeal packets -Personal Hygiene items: new and unopened toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc., including travel-sized items. This month, there is expected to be a major surge in need at food pantries due to the federal cuts and eligibility changes to SNAP benefits. Let’s support our neighbors experiencing food insecurity!

Join the good folks at @hideoutchicago for their last @soupbreadchi with all proceeds going to Ravenswood Community Services! Wednesday, April 1 at 5:30 - 8:00 pm No fooling, it's the final Soup & Bread of the 2026 soup season. But don't be sad -- it just means spring is finally on the way. Join us to fill your bellies with soup from an array of talented cooks, and bread from PQM and Middebrow. As a bonus, you can take home a handmade bowl from our pals at Gnarware Workshop! Guest DJ this month is Stan Wood. You can RSVP online via the Hideout, or just show up. Kids are welcome with parent or guardian.

It’s time for another First Fridays Food Drive to support @rcschicago ! This month’s food drive runs March 6-12. As need continues to increase, let’s come together to support our neighbors with convenient drop-off locations around the neighborhood. Where to Donate (all bins located on front porches) > 4639 N Wolcott > 4404 N Paulina > 4837 N Hermitage > 4730 N Winchester > 1620 W Sunnyside > 4450 N Wolcott ACCEPTED ITEMS This food drive specifically supports RCS’ After School Pantry program, which provides food distribution at three nearby schools during dismissal. The food distributed through this program is not subsidized by USDA or the Greater Chicago Food Depository, so we can make the biggest impact by offsetting program costs to provide some family staples. > Plastic jars of peanut butter > Mac and cheese box kits > Oatmeal packets > Personal Hygiene items: new and unopened toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc., including travel-sized items. > Other items welcome!

Looking for another way to support Ravenswood Community Services? Run, walk, or donate to the Annual Ravenswood Run. This year celebrating 30 years running! @ravenswoodrun Link to info about the Ravenswood Run in bio.

The month of January food pantry proceeds will go to benefit @rcschicago . This coming Monday restarts the dinners from 6:00-8:00. January's meal will be shepherds pie with beef or a vegan version of same for those in need. Please tell your friends. No questions asked. No one turned away for lack of funds. Help us feed people. Help us raise money for a local food pantry. #communitysupper #fundraiser #solidaritynotcharity #shepherdspie #ravenswood

It’s time for another First Fridays Food Drive to support Ravenswood Community Services. As need continues to increase, let’s come together to support our neighbors with convenient drop-off locations around the neighborhood. This month’s food drive runs January 2-8. Where to Donate (all bins located on front porches) 4639 N Wolcott 4837 N Hermitage 4730 N Winchester 1620 W Sunnyside 4450 N Wolcott Accepted Items This food drive specifically supports RCS’ After School Pantry program, which provides food distribution at three nearby schools during dismissal. The food distributed through this program is not subsidized by USDA or the Greater Chicago Food Depository, so we can make the biggest impact by offsetting program costs to provide some family staples. > Plastic jars of peanut butter (18 oz) > Mac and cheese box kits (7oz) > Oatmeal packets > Personal Hygiene items: new and unopened toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc., including travel-sized items. > New and gently used hats and gloves of all sizes

As we wrap up 2025, we’re reflecting with gratitude. Since August, the Junior League of Chicago’s Community Council has been busy serving our city—and none of it would be possible without our incredible members and partners. Here’s what we’ve accomplished just this fall: - 50+ community events across Chicago - 300+ volunteers engaged - 400+ direct service hours contributed - And even more impact still being tallied from December From packing essentials at @ShareOurSpare , distributing food with @NourishingHopeChi , and serving meals at @LPCSChicago , to supporting STEAM learning with the @ChicagoPublicLibrary — our members showed up again and again. Our six Community Council committees have brought joy, learning, and support to children, teens, and families all over Chicago: - Mad Hatters – Storytelling across Chicago libraries, Spooky Zoo Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo, and Boo-Palooza in Wicker Park - Kids in the Kitchen – Healthy activities with The Michaels Organization, Major Adams, and Gilda’s Club kids - Teen Mentoring – Building connections with teens from @CristoReyChi - Homework Heroes – Meals and homework help at Second Presbyterian - Marshall Field Garden Apartments – After-school programming with @ChicagoYouthPrograms - Done in a Day – 1-day service impact with @ShareOurSpare , @RCSChicago , @DigswithDignity , @NourishingHopeChi , and more And in September, our annual Find a Good Day event celebrated literacy—collecting 100+ books and putting them directly back into our community. Thank you to every member, partner, and volunteer who made these moments possible. We can’t wait for what 2026 will bring. Visit the link in bio to learn about joining the Junior League of Chicago for meaningful community impact. #JLC #JuniorLeagueOfChicago #WomenBuildingBetterCommunities

It's not too late to take advantage of our generous matching opportunity. Make your year-end donation now! You know that scene in It's A Wonderful Life where a community comes together to support their neighbor? Well RCS is a modern day George Bailey. Earlier this month we announced that donations in December would be doubled up to $10,000 thanks to a matching gift from an anonymous donor. The response has been, well, wonderful. You have a few more days in December to take advantage of this match! Donation Link in the Bio

Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) is thrilled to announce that an anonymous donor has offered to match every dollar donated to RCS this December, up to $10,000! The timing of this couldn’t be better. Not only is RCS gearing up to meet the challenges that 2026 will bring,it also marks the launch of our newest After School Pantry in partnership with McPherson Elementary. McPherson Elementary joins Goudy, McCutcheon, and Brenneman Elementary schools currently in partnership with RCS, now entering its fourth year of providing kid-friendly food on site at dismissal times, every week these pantries matter. These pantries meet busy families where they are, offering food to cover weekend meals that is both easyto carry home and simple to prepare. Despite its many challenges, 2025 has also been marked by an overwhelming display of kindness and generosity from RCS family of volunteers and donors. Folks showed up in ALL the ways, big, small, and in-between. Thank you for your consideration to donate to RCS this December! Donation link in the bio.

All Saints Episcopal Church invites you to join them for a warm evening of song and beverages. Tonight. @oshaughnessyspub @allsaints_chicago

RAVENSWOOD FOOD DRIVE - THROUGH 12/11 Thank you to all our neighbors who have supported RNA’s First Fridays Food Drive to assist @rcschicago ! Last month we filled our president’s car with donations—let’s do it again! Our monthly Food Drive runs Friday, December 5 through Thursday, December 11. Where to Donate (all bins located on front porches) 4639 N Wolcott 4404 N Paulina 4837 N Hermitage 4730 N Winchester 1620 W Sunnyside 4450 N Wolcott Accepted Items This food drive specifically supports RCS’ After School Pantry program, which provides food distribution at three nearby schools during dismissal. The food distributed through this program is not subsidized by USDA or the Greater Chicago Food Depository, so we can make the biggest impact by offsetting program costs to provide some family staples. > Plastic jars of peanut butter (18 oz) > Mac and cheese box kits (7oz) > Oatmeal packets > Personal Hygiene items: new and unopened toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc., including travel-sized items. > New and gently used hats and gloves of all sizes are needed! MORE WAYS TO HELP: Come to our Holiday Market at the Ravenswood Light Up Nights Festival (3-7pm Saturday) and enter our raffle for a chance to win great local prizes! Proceeds will be split between RNA and the food pantry.

Today is Giving Tuesday! Your Support goes a long way to help our neighbors. Regardless of need or means we feed, welcome all, and treat each with dignity. Your donations help us buy food for all who come, never turning anyone away. Thanks for your support today and all of the days throughout the year. Giving Link in bio