In Chicago's Austin neighborhood, access to fresh food is becoming a challenge revealing food insecurity. However, a groundbreaking pilot program by the City of Chicago, Vivery Community, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository is bringing fresh hope to disabled residents, providing door-to-door food deliveries packed with essential nutrients.
Launched in February 2023, in coordination with the Vivery Idea Lab, this pilot program had been a game-changer for the Austin community, revolutionizing how disabled residents access food in their area. The Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities (MOPD), the Community Safety Coordination Center (CSCC), Vivery Community, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository recently announced the continuation of the program for another six months. This life-changing initiative has already distributed over 27,000 pounds of food, created 38 new jobs for locals, and made 1,059 deliveries to 100 disabled Austin residents, according to a press release from the City of Chicago.
The program relies on technology brought to life at the Vivery Idea Lab, which was first announced earlier in February 2023. This lab, backed by the Thierer Family Foundation, focuses on developing, testing, and scaling customized solutions that increase access to nutritious food and help those struggling with food insecurity. This collaboration between MOPD, CSCC, and the Thierer Family Foundation intends to create a supportive network and generate a long-term impact on these struggling communities.
By addressing the food security issue among residents living with disabilities, these organizations have teamed up to create a pathway to food equity. Mayor Brandon Johnson said, "This kind of partnership is essential to moving this work forward, and making sure we continue to nourish people, and invest in people, with care, compassion, and collaboration," in the press release.
Participating disabled residents are matched with local pantries and receive two monthly deliveries of fresh, nutritious food, using Vivery’s communication tools to provide valuable feedback throughout their experience. Vernia Palmer, a longtime Austin resident, participated in the pilot and said, "This program benefits people like me that can’t get to the food pantries. It’s a blessing and it's good!", as per the press release.
However, despite its success in Austin, the program’s continuation is currently limited to the original 100 residents due to funding constraints. But the organizations behind the initiative are on a mission to identify additional funders, with a plan to bring these food deliveries to another 1,000 disabled residents throughout Chicago. The Greater Chicago Food Depository is providing the current funding for the program's extension, with hopes of a wider reach in the future.
Nasrin Thierer, Founder of Thierer Family Foundation, explained, "When public and private forces partner together, it means we can really scale these efforts and make them sustainable." The Vivery Idea Lab’s pilot programs have made more than 500 deliveries, with plans to target up to 2,000 deliveries to 150 Austin community individuals, providing them with consistent access to food for six months.
