Where Compassion Meets Hunger: Volunteers Step Up to Serve

On many Sunday afternoons, a group of congregants head to the Congregation Sukkat Shalom kitchen with a clear sense of purpose, stepping into a space soon to be filled with warmth, camaraderie, and quiet dedication to a greater cause.

This enthusiastic group of volunteers will be preparing and serving meals to those experiencing homelessness and food insecurity.

“Everyone deserves to be seen, fed, and cared for,” said Brenda Werth who co-chairs this initiative with Jane Rothschild. “This is how we show up for our neighbors in a world where hunger often hides in plain sight.”

“We hope our project functions as a small act of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). The North Shore is not immune to homelessness and food insecurity,” Brenda points out. “For example, The Margarita Inn operates as a homeless shelter and is located only about one mile from Sukkat Shalom.”

This helps illuminate the motivation and purpose of a group of enthusiastic volunteers (25 strong and growing) supporting the mission of Connections for the Homeless—an Evanston-based organization that operates The Margarita Inn shelter. The nonprofit serves as a vital safety net for thousands of neighbors in Evanston and Northern Cook County who face food insecurity and need support to maintain safe, stable housing.

Volunteers Stir-Up Nutritious Meals for their Neighbors

The problems of the world seem very big, sometimes not solvable, but it is possible to help someone with a good, nutritious meal,” Jane said.

Volunteers comprised of individuals and families gather in the temple kitchen to prepare and deliver a nutritious dinner two times every month to the Margarita Inn residents. Donations made to the temple’s Social Justice Fund provide funding to purchase supplies and ingredients for these meals.

“Our volunteers plan and prepare protein-rich meals. Dinners have included a Taco Bar, Greek chicken with couscous salad or roasted potatoes, and sloppy joes and cole slaw,” Jane explained.

In addition, this summer volunteers are meeting bi-weekly at the temple to assemble seventy-five bagged lunches to be distributed at Connections Drop-in sites.

“We are so grateful to the many congregants who are giving their time and money to support this project. With an ever-growing number of volunteers, we hope to expand our commitment to providing more meals throughout the year,” Jane said.

Homelessness on the Rise in Illinois

In Illinois, homelessness more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, while in Chicago homelessness more than tripled. In suburban Cook County, the numbers increased by a more modest 12.5%, which is the second-largest annual increase in the last decade.

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Chicago still jumped by 25%. This data has been prepared in a report by Kelsey Caspersen, Director of Compliance and Government Investment, Connections for the Homeless, February 2025.

Meals Served with “smiles and compassion”

“It means so much to Connections participants when Sukkat Shalom's volunteers show up with dinner, smiles, and compassion. Our participants come away with the feeling that the whole community cares about what happens in their lives,” said Eli Cooper-Nelson, Development Manager Volunteer & Kind Donations, Connections for the Homeless.

Eli further expressed, “Everyone appreciates being seen, and regular interactions with volunteers send a message of love and support that dramatically improves the quality of life for residents of the Margarita Inn. I know I speak for everyone when I say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the amazing work you all do.”

Supporting the Community While Deepening Friendships

Jancy Jerome, a congregant who volunteers regularly, reflects on her experiences expressed by many others.

"Meeting other congregants and getting to know them through cooking is one of the best parts. It’s so special to be able to do something that supports my community while deepening my friendships with the other volunteers."

About Congregation Sukkat Shalom

Sukkat Shalom is a unique, innovative congregation serving diverse individuals and families within an intimate spiritual home. Its specific mission is outreach to the intermarried, the unaffiliated, and all those searching for a meaningful Jewish life. Visit: www.sukkatshalom.org Located at 1001 Central Ave, Wilmette, IL, Phone: (847) 251-2675 or email sukkatshalom@sukkatshalom.org