Shepherd’s HOPE provides over a 3-million pounds of food annually.
On March 3, 2009, a ministry was birthed that the Lord appropriately named Shepherd’s HOPE. Beginning with feeding a homeless man a homemade lunch followed by a series of events, the Lord prompted the founder Brian Anderson to open a food pantry in the dangerous and devastated Englewood community of Chicago. With 3 drug houses on the block and constant violence on the street, the Lord used this little 1000-square-foot food pantry to rock the lives of many individuals and turn their block and community upside down. Great change has occurred in our community since Shepherd’s Hope opened its doors. Violence has significantly decreased and the drug activity that was so prevalent is greatly diminished. A real sense of community is developing as we serve and show respect to all who enter the doors of Shepherd’s HOPE.
From the very beginning, we gave ownership of the food pantry to the community. Nearly all of our volunteers are also clients who live near the pantry. In addition to providing food, we are working to mentor, train and raise HOPE for the residents of this community. Much of that goal is realized through the daily tasks at the pantry.
In 2016, the 1000-square foot pantry at 5732 S. Lowe was bulging at the seams. After a long search for a new location, Shepherd’s Hope bought a closed CPS school, now called THE CENTER OF ENGLEWOOD.
Since the days of feeding that single homeless man a homemade lunch, Shepherd’s HOPE has grown to distribute over 3,000,000 pounds of food annually, touching over 6,000 people a week. Shepherd’s HOPE is all about building relationships and trust with our neighbors because we know that sharing the gospel is a lot more believable when the people can see the hands and feet of JESUS in action.
The Food Pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm. at 838 W. Marquette Road.