Quick Facts

During the past year

The number of households served increased to more than 4,400.
Almost 1,000 new families were added to the client rolls.
Clients turned to Care for Real for food almost 17,000 times.
CFR distributed almost 60,000 pounds of food each month.
Our driver logged more than 1,500 miles each month and picked up over 30,000 pounds of donated food each month.
More than 70 active volunteers worked an average of 900 hours a month…the equivalent of having another five full time staff members.

Care for Real is one of the few sources of free clothing for those in need. Our clothes closet served more than 70 families each week.
We gave away special food baskets for Eid, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
More than 300 students received backpacks and school supplies in September.
Our clothing give-away provided winter coats, gloves, etc. to newly arrived refugees and others in need.
At Christmas, more than 600 children received gifts thanks to Care for Real donors.
Case management ensured that each client receives monthly counseling, support and, when necessary, referrals to specialized services.

More than 100 people donated to or walked for Care for Real at the Greater Chicago Food Depository's annual Hunger Walk.
We received ongoing support from Trader Joe's Lincoln Park; Dominick's on Broadway and on McCormick Blvd.; Whole Foods stores in Evanston, Sauganash and Halsted and Waveland; Flourish Bakery; Intelligentsia Coffee; Starbuck's Coffee; True Nature Foods; Little Sisters of the Poor; Kim's Hardware; Value Services Auto Repair; Clark-Devon Hardware and Rickover Naval Academy Students.
A new program, Chef's Care for Real, was launched. Restaurants donated a portion of their gross receipts on a given evening to CFR. Participants included Antica Pizzeria, Broadway Cellars, Francesca's and Uncommon Ground. St. Andrew's Pub and Bananas Foster also are regular contributors.
Neighbors started "Pack the Car" to make it easier for people to donate to Care for Real.
That Little Mexican Café has provided Thanksgiving dinners to more than 200 Care for Real clients.
Edgewater religious institutions continued to be major supports, holding food drives, benefits and special events to support CFR.

We provided food, clothing, case management and referral services to more than 4,400 families with a paid staff of only four full-time equivalent employees.
90% of expenses go to direct client services, an excellent rating according to the National Charities Information Bureau, the watchdog of charitable organizations.
Expenses in the first six months of 2010 were actually 8% less than in 2009.
BUT, contributions during the same period were down by almost 30%.
We have had to draw on our cash reserves to meet the ever-increasing client load.
We have outgrown our present facility and will need to move to a larger space in 2011.