GOLD2023

RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC

Food Pantry and Community Kitchen

Mission

Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) provides the basics of food and supplies to our neighbors, respecting the dignity of all and creating community on Chicago's north side. We strive to offer services and connections to resources that can help people realize health, stability, and self-sufficiency.

Ruling year info

2001

Principal Officer

Lori Gee

Main address

4550 N. Hermitage Avenue

Chicago, IL 60640 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

36-4439781

NTEE code info

Food Banks, Food Pantries (K31)

Congregate Meals (K34)

Youth Development Programs (O50)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) operates a food pantry and community kitchen, providing groceries and meals for people dealing with food insecurity.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

RCS Food Pantry and Community Kitchen

Every Tuesday, RCS offers groceries and meals to neighbors dealing with food insecurity. RCS' choice-model pantry provides each household with a nutritional mix of groceries, including fresh milk, bread and other grains, a protein source (often including meat or poultry), fruits and vegetables, and other grocery staples. RCS also offers a "no kitchen” option with easy-to-prepare items and pop-top cans for our neighbors who are unhoused or without access to the tools of a traditional kitchen. Volunteer cooking teams also prepare a meal for carry out.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth
Ethnic and racial groups
Economically disadvantaged people
Immigrants and migrants

On the second Saturday of each month, RCS operates a "mobile pantry” food distribution program in the front courtyard at Ravenswood School, a neighborhood public elementary school. The Saturday Pantry represents an important community partnership between RCS, Ravenswood School, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) to offer fresh produce, bread and other grocery staples at no charge to neighborhood families in need of food assistance.

Population(s) Served

In partnership with local public schools, RCS offers groceries on-site to busy families as they pick up kids from school.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth
Ethnic and racial groups
Economically disadvantaged people
Immigrants and migrants
Adults
Children and youth
Ethnic and racial groups
Economically disadvantaged people
Immigrants and migrants

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

We strive to offer services and connections to resources that can help people realize health, stability and self-sufficiency.

RCS provides access to groceries and meals through a weekly choice-model food pantry and community kitchen dinner, a monthly Saturday Pantry, and multiple After School pantries. The weekly pantry includes support from an on-site social worker available to connect neighbors with other resources as needed.

RCS is a member agency of The Greater Chicago Food Depository's network of hunger relief agencies which provide access to significant amounts of high quality, nutritious food at little to no cost. It is fortunate to have the volunteer support of more than 500 volunteers annually and the generous financial support of local individuals, businesses, and foundations.

Since its first distribution in 1993, the food pantry operated by Ravenswood Community Services has grown from providing groceries donated by volunteers to a handful of neighbors each week, to serving 200-250 neighborhood families every Tuesday evening with food supplied through donations, USDA commodities, rescued produce and other food items, and purchased staples including fresh produce, milk, and bread. In addition to the expansion of its food pantry services, RCS also added a weekly hot meal service (served family-style for 125) and an on-site social worker to connect neighbors with resources in the community for things like housing, health care, and job training. In 2009, RCS added a Saturday Pantry to its programs, serving families from the grounds of Ravenswood Elementary. And in 2021, RCS launched a series of After School Pantries in partnership with 3 elementary schools in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood to reach busy families as they were picking up kids from school. RCS programs, run by a small group of volunteers 25 years ago, now benefit from community support including partnerships with local schools, businesses, youth groups, community groups, other non-profit agencies, and individuals. RCS will continue to evolve its service offerings, according to the needs of our neighbors, using a combination of providing additional services in-house and leveraging services already available from other local agencies. Plans for the expansion of services are evaluated according to two key criteria: effective service delivery and efficient use of scarce resources.

Financials

RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC

Board of directors
as of 02/10/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Brian Lynch

No Affiliation

Nicole Spreen

MAXIMUS

Dan Morgan

Mark Ortlieb

Lisa Patel

Brian Lynch

Suzanne Wille

All Saints' Episcopal Church

Kelly Hewitt

Amanda Caldwell

Jane Schaefer

Jennifer Boyle Tucker

Margaret McCamant

Erin Ruffolo

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No