AGC Blog

There is no substitute for food.

Throughout 2025, Chicago communities have demonstrated strength and resilience in the face of mounting stressors. Yet food insecurity continues to threaten quality of life, especially in Southwest Chicago, during one of the busiest, hardest, and coldest times of the year.

That’s why AGC is doubling down our Nourish the Neighborhood Initiative: to ensure that every neighbor has access to the nourishment and dignity they deserve.

We’re setting an ambitious fundraising goal of $15,000 for Giving Tuesday. All gifts are tax-deductible and will directly support our ongoing efforts to advance food justice.

When you donate to AGC by December 2, 2025, you’ll be supporting these three key initiatives:

Little Leaf Fresh Foods Market

What It Is: Our newly opened bodega on AGC’s campus in collaboration with Cultivate Collective, featuring fresh fruits and veggies, nutritious grab-and-go meals, juices, coffees, healthy snacks, and common household staples—all priced below retail value.

Why It Matters: Southwest Chicago is home to vibrant, culturally rich communities that deserve convenient access to fresh, nourishing foods. Little Leaf Market builds on this strength by expanding local food choices with affordable, high-quality options that reflect and support the community’s health and well-being.

How It Helps: Little Leaf Market promises that fresh food can be more affordable, accessible, and joyful, helping to redefine what healthy living looks like by celebrating multicultural ingredients, seasonal flavors, and nourishing choices.

DONATE

Sustainable School Food Program

What It Is: AGC’s in-house school food program that offers organic, scratch-made, and plant-forward meals featuring whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and seeds sourced from local farmers and vendors.

Why It Matters: AGC’s evidence-based, plant-forward approach to school food provides optimal nutrition for students at every stage of development, supports sustainable agriculture practices, and improves the overall well-being of our planet.

How It Helps: Your support helps AGC scale this model across local and global schools to meet modern nutrition standards, build food literacy, and foster lifelong healthy habits in the next generation of leaders.

DONATE

Community Fridge & Pantry

What It Is: Our 24/7 outdoor food resource that provides frozen, refrigerated, and shelf-stable goods stocked by AGC, generous local supporters, and our dedicated community partner, Envision.

Why It Matters: It’s a dignified, community-powered service that ensures families, elders, youth, and neighbors with disabilities always have access to something nourishing.

How It Helps: This initiative not only supports food access, it also helps reduce food waste, redirecting unopened snacks, drinks, and even occasional leftovers from AGC’s school meals to those who can use them most.

DONATE

Thank you for supporting food justice and standing with our Southwest Chicago community. 

Let’s continue to nourish our neighbors—with fuel, dignity, and love.