Wolves’ $50,000 donation to Common Pantry ‘a game changer’

The Chicago Wolves organization prides itself on being champions both on and off the ice.

To that end, Monday was a special day for the franchise as members of the team’s hierarchy presented Common Pantry a check for $50,000 to help those battling food insecurities.

The donation on behalf of Wolves owner Don Levin is a continuation of support the American Hockey League franchise has shown Common Pantry, the oldest continually operating non-profit food pantry in Chicago.

“What I want to say to Don is that finding a little pantry like Common Pantry, one that doesn’t get a lot of attention, has been so important for our community and the neighbors who we feed week in and week out here in the city of Chicago,” said Common Pantry Executive Director Margaret O’Conor. “It’s a game changer.”

The $50,000 donation is the second one made by Levin since the Wolves partnered with Common Pantry five years ago and is just part of the support the organization has shown. On Monday, the Wolves also donated nearly 700 pounds of food gathered via the team’s Canned Food Drive held during home games in November.

“I feel strongly we have a duty to give back and to have an owner who feels the same way and walks the walk and talks the talk is incredible,” Wolves President of Operations Courtney Mahoney said. “To have the privilege to come down here to give an amazing organization a check for $50,000 and to drop off nearly 700 pounds of food that our awesome fans donated is a pretty good Monday.”

Alongside Mahoney to present the donation to Common Pantry was Wolves Vice Chairman/Governor Wendell Young, who also took a comprehensive tour of the food pantry located at 3908 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

“It’s phenomenal what they do here,” Young said. “I walked in here not knowing how the operation went and I see the phenomenal number of volunteers and the amount of food and the depth of what they do here. They don’t just hand out food, they cook food, they educate people on food and they distribute a lot of non-food products that people need.”

Making it more special for Young was that Levin signified that the donation be made in honor of Young’s induction into the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

“It’s unbelievable,” an emotional Young said. “Nothing ever surprises me on how charitable Don Levin he is and how caring he is of people. To have the money going to Common Pantry in my name and honor was extra-special.”

Speaking of special, O’Conor touched on the commitment the Wolves have made to Common Pantry throughout the years.

“With such a small pantry it’s hard to find the resources to cultivate relationships and sometimes for organizations or corporations, it’s a one-and-done deal and they move on,” O’Conor said. “That’s not the case for the Chicago Wolves. The Chicago Wolves have leaned in year in and year out through their food drives and volunteer opportunities with staff. It’s been pretty impressive how the Wolves have doubled down to make sure they stay engaged with us.”

Help Common Pantry fight hunger by donating here today.