The Community Outreach Committee at Second Presbyterian Church oversees the Lunch Bag Program. Our dedicated volunteers serve nutritious lunches Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, serving, pre-Covid (our servings are down but we hope and pray to have them back up soon), approximately 150 to 200 of our neighbors in need each week. Our volunteers know each neighbor by name and greet each with a warm smile, and a caring and personal hello.

The Lunch Bag Program was started in 1986 by elder Lucille Whitworth when she noticed many of our neighbors were coming to the church asking for both food and help. Wanting to feed the need, she began the Lunch Bag Program at Second Presbyterian Church, which has become a staple for our community. Originally paying for it herself, the free lunches are now made possible through the generous donations of our church members and many of our community members at large. We are grateful for all of their support.

The Lunch Bag Program also distributes bags of groceries and personal hygiene products at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and provides warm clothing throughout Chicago’s winter through our Winter Clothing Drive. As an aside, we collect and distribute hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, and socks, as well as sweaters, hoodies, and warm coats. All donations are welcome!  For more information about our Lunch Bag Program or our Winter Clothing Drive, please call the Church offices (312) 225-4951.