Help Jacqueline Feed Those in Need
Hi, my name is Jacqueline and I am a third year law student who is committed to helping those in need. I have several passion projects going that I would like to continue but need help. I’ve used scholarship money, forgone TV/Cable for one year and used both of my stimulus checks to make this happen. I don’t own a restaurant, have a commercial kitchen, or any physical
help. I do it all myself!
971....that is how many brown bag lunches I have made and delivered to Catholic Charities since March 2020. My kitchen has morphed into an assembly line. My cupboards are filled with single servings of chips and my pantry is stocked with 1000 ketchup, mustard, and mayo packets. None of these items are for me.
These lunches are not only feeding the homeless that turn to Catholic Charities for help, but Chicago’s essential workers who cannot afford food as the pandemic continues to ravage not only our city, but the nation and world. With soup kitchens closed and food pantries struggling to meet increasing demand, this may be the only food available to some of the struggling Chicagoans. Often, what is in the brown bag is rationed over several days. I learned of the Chicago Help Initiative by a quick scroll of the law school online announcements. The lunch request appeared simple. All that was required: a homemade sandwich, a snack like chips, a piece of fruit and water or juice. Using money I made from selling a textbook back, I made my first 20 lunches. I set out grocery shopping, utilizing every coupon, discount and deal I could find. Since, I have used my stimulus money and some student loan money to continue my lunch making.
For the past 11 months, I have made and delivered lunches bi-weekly. I have even gotten creative with my lunches, making everything from homemade burritos, soup, and meatballs subs. Sometimes I will make sandwiches while attending law school lectures via Zoom, especially if the lecture does not require note taking and I have free hands. Other days, I have up at 7 a.m. and get cooking. Then, I deliver my lunches by 9:30 a.m. My goal is to reach 1000 lunches by my law school graduation on May 15, 2021.
***However, I’d like to continue to make
lunches until the soup kitchens reopen***
DCFS Easter Baskets
Continuing to feed those in need is coupled with my ongoing passion project—making Easter baskets- for children removed from their homes by DCFS. I started this initiative five years ago when I learned from a social worker that when the children and teens are removed, most leave with nothing— most have never owned a pair of pajamas. Every year, I challenge myself to make more baskets. In 2019, I made 30 baskets. In 2020, I made 53 baskets. This year, I made 60 baskets. While the children’s baskets are made out of sand pails, the teen girl’s baskets are made in waterproof shower caddies. Every child and teen received new and essential items, including: a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc. Every teen boy and teen girl received a brand-new blanket and $10 gift card to Starbucks in addition to fun items like new nail polish, makeup bags, an athletic ball (soccer ball, football, basketball), Flarp, earbuds, and candy.
Crowdsourcing makes producing these baskets possible. For instance, a local business woman saw my Facebook post about making baskets and graciously donated all the toothbrushes~~ her Bucktown Company makes them! Additionally, an individual who works for Hilton Hotels donated miniature soap kits that included bar soap, lotion, shampoo, and conditioner. Another woman who is a makeup rep donated dozens of new body lotions for the teen girls. I bought the rest at the Dollar Store and Target—again working every coupon, discount, and deal imaginable! It brings me a lot of comfort knowing that while I will never see the children/teens receive these baskets due to privacy concerns, they are receiving a basket that will hopefully bring them comfort. Also, the essential items in the basket will hopefully help them during this pandemic—as most of these children cannot afford new items. I have also made sure to include a squeezable stress toy in all 60 baskets as the pandemic is causing many mental health issues in youth.
