CHI provides meals every Wednesday evening to 150 disadvantaged and homeless individuals in the community at the facilities of Catholic Charities at 721 N. LaSalle Street. In addition to being served a nutritious meal, guests can also visit with doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers and sign up for drug rehabilitation, job training programs, homeless shelters and literacy tutoring.
CHI partners with local businesses, residential, faith-based, social service, institutional and volunteer leaders striving to promote an atmosphere of dignity and compassion toward those in need by providing access to food, health services, shelter and employment to more than 6,500 every year.
For many of the CHI guests, these weekly meals provide them with a good meal and the only source of access to medical and social services they may need to overcome their barriers to homelessness and poverty. This population in need has increased greatly due to the strains of the current economic conditions and include those who have lost jobs and homes over the last couple of years.
It is CHI’s mission to assist our guests in bettering their lives and becoming contributing members of the community once again. CHI is very much a local organization, drawing our support from the residents and businesses that surround us. We have only one paid staff person supported by interns, but every meal is served with upwards of 25 volunteers. We are an organization that succeeds by leveraging existing partnerships and resources.
Jacqueline Hayes, Founder
155 N. Harbor Drive, Suite 702
Chicago, IL 60601
www.chicagohelpinitiative.org