Northside food pantry continues its evolution in supporting food-insecure neighbors
CHICAGO, IL – September 15, 2021 – Due to rising demand for its services and concerns about food waste amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Friendship Center – a food pantry serving the Albany Park, Lincoln Square, North Park, Ravenswood and West Ridge neighborhoods of Chicago – is hiring an Executive Director to help provide more food to neighbors in need. Effective October 11, 2021, Justin Block will guide the nonprofit in meeting the local demand for charitable food assistance and other vital resources.
For years, Block worked at Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, leading Supply Chain, Data and Technology teams, and oversaw the development of MealConnect, a food donation platform that recently eclipsed the 3 billion pounds mark. He has also held positions at Shorebank and Urban Partnership Bank, community development financial institutions active in commercial and consumer lending in the undercapitalized south and west sides of Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit. Transitioning to the role from his current Friendship Center board member capacity, Block holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to improve the lives of the food insecure folks on Chicago’s North side,” Block says. “I’ve lived in Albany Park for about a decade and am eager to create a better experience for my neighbors facing hunger.”
The hire comes at a time when the coronavirus Delta variant prolongs the economic downturn for many Chicagoans. “Last year we saw an unprecedented number of visitors,” remarks Ted Helwig, Friendship Center Board Chair. “We feel strongly that building our leadership team at this critical time is the right thing to do.” Even with a solid connection to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, expanding the Friendship Center’s local partnerships will ensure it is able to grow to meet the need. Block will be developing and implementing a multiyear organizational strategy with a focus on making meaningful progress in reducing food insecurity for the community.
For more information on the Friendship Center, visit friendshipcenterchicago.org
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Press Contact
Greta Bailey at greta@friendshipcenterchicago.org or 773.907.6388
About the Friendship Center
Founded in 1969, the Friendship Center is a non-sectarian, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing groceries for 2,000 people every month for residents of the Albany Park, Lincoln Square, North Park, Ravenswood and West Ridge neighborhoods of Chicago. The food pantry is accessible four days a week and a hot meal service is provided Thursday evenings. A pet food pantry is hosted once per month and home delivery service is available for seniors and other individuals who are homebound. The Friendship Center also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and improves access to resources that protect people from going hungry. Visit friendshipcenterchicago.org, or find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.