The city's ongoing effort to support its newest residents has received a nearly $18 million boost through local minority-owned businesses, specifically targeting the Black and Latino communities. Mayor Brandon Johnson has lauded the collaboration between the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the State of Illinois, and BJ’s Market and Bakery as a milestone in feeding more than 10,000 asylum-seeking new arrivals, as reported by the City of Chicago's official website.
This substantial investment comes from both government funding and private donations, it has benefited a number of community-based organizations, BJ’s Market and Bakery, located on E. 95th St, was singled out by the Mayor for its essential role in nourishing the local community and for being “an anchor of the South Side". In a joint celebration, Mayor Johnson acknowledged the Greater Chicago Food Depository's four-decade service in combating hunger, and the work of local businesses like BJ's who have "stepped up to meet this moment", providing thousands with "delicious and nutritious food", according to a statement on the City of Chicago's news release.
The Greater Chicago Food Depository facilitated this initiative by contracting a network of BIPOC-owned restaurants and caterers, who in turn provided daily hot meals to a growing roster of city shelters, addressing both the immediate need for sustenance and fostering local economic development. The Food Depository's strategic approach since early 2023 has already seen promising results, with 17 contractors delivering around 18,000 daily hot meals and creating jobs that pay living wages, indicated by Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Food Depository, during her remarks on community impact where she said, “Our work to feed new arrivals gave us the opportunity to meet an urgent demand while creating economic impact and living wage jobs."
BJ’s Market and Bakery’s inclusion as a contractor saw a surge in its business, not only doubling its revenue but also expanding its workforce with full-time positions to support the increasing demand, Chef and owner John Meyer shared his own experience with the initiative, telling the news from City of Chicago, “For the first time in my 31 years in business, I've been able to run my restaurant as it's meant to be. I learned so much about myself, my team and we all are better because of it.”
Caterers and restaurateurs like Blueprint Group, Catering Out the Box, and Rome’s Joy Catering among others, have also experienced a positive turn in their economic fortunes, reporting growth in revenue, the Food Depository aims to replicate this model, furthering efforts to end local hunger and invest in neighborhood-owned food suppliers. Kate Maehr expressed gratitude for the city government’s trust in their mission and the State of Illinois, coupled with donors' generosity, has made an enduring impact on Chicago's community, ensuring that the city's ethos of caring for its newest members remains robust and continues to thrive.
