RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC
Food Pantry and Community Kitchen
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Ravenswood Community Services (RCS) operates a food pantry and community kitchen, providing groceries and meals for people dealing with food insecurity.
Our programs
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.
RCS Saturday Pantry
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.
RCS After School Pantries
In partnership with local public schools, RCS offers groceries on-site to busy families as they pick up kids from school.
Where we work
External reviews

Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We strive to offer services and connections to resources that can help people realize health, stability and self-sufficiency.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
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.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
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.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
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
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
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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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
RAVENSWOOD COMMUNITY SERVICES INC
Board of directorsas of 02/10/2023
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
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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