Staff Spotlight | Coffee and Conversation | Apachi Day Camp | Farm to Pantry

“A client once told me that The Ark feels like a second home, a place where people are comfortable opening up and sharing their stories."
—  Hannah Prezant, Case Management Support Specialist

Coffee and Conversation is a new series that invites supporters, volunteers, and community members into The Ark for a closer look at the people and programs behind our work. 

Our upcoming gathering is Tuesday, September 15, from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. at The Ark in Chicago. We’ll start with coffee and refreshments, followed by a tour of The Ark, and a conversation with the staff who work with our clients every day. 

Each gathering will focus on a different area of The Ark’s work, giving guests a chance to learn more about the challenges clients are facing and how The Ark is responding. Topics throughout the series will include food security, housing assistance, employment services, mental health care, and more. 

There will be plenty of time to ask questions, meet other members of The Ark community, and get a better sense of how all of these services come together under one roof. 

Whether you’ve been involved with The Ark for years or are visiting for the first time, we hope you’ll join us for coffee, conversation, and a chance to see The Ark in action. 

Campers at JCC Chicago’s Apachi Day Camps do more than swim, sing, and play gaga. They also help stock The Ark’s food pantries. 

For the second summer in a row, Apachi partnered with The Ark to engage campers across six camp locations in a pantry collection drive supporting Ark clients.

Campers and Counselors-in-Training (CITs) collected and counted more than 8,100 kosher food items and household essentials like cooking oil, peanut butter, toothbrushes, and sponges for The Ark’s pantries in Chicago and Northbrook.

With nearly 3,000 campers and about 150 CITs throughout the summer, there were plenty of ways to get everyone involved. The camps incorporated the drive into their Maccabi games, awarding points for donations and turning generosity into friendly competition.

“It was impressive to see how passionate the campers were about participating and helping The Ark give more people access to the food they need.”

— Alexa, Ark Summer Intern 

This year, The Ark was also excited to partner with Ramah Day Camp on a collection drive. In its first year participating, Ramah collected an additional 300 items, bringing the summer total to more than 8,400 items. 

Thank you to everyone at Apachi and Ramah Day Camps, and to every camper who packed a bag and helped fill The Ark’s shelves this summer. 

You can help, too. As the High Holidays approach, help us keep The Ark’s pantries stocked by joining our Pack the Pantry effort. 

The Ark’s High Holiday Collection Drive for our kosher food pantries is underway, offering a powerful opportunity to care for more than 3,400 Jewish individuals in our community experiencing financial and food insecurity. 

Thanks to our participating network of synagogues and other community partners, it is easier than ever to pack the pantry:

1. Donate Dollars:: Make a monetary contribution directly to our pantry and help us purchase exactly what’s needed, when it’s needed most. 

2. Click & Ship: Shop our Amazon Wish List and conveniently ship items directly to The Ark. 

3. Shop & Drop: Bring nonperishable kosher food and household essentials to a participating synagogue near you, or to The Ark’s locations in Chicago or Northbrook. 

Your support this season will help us care for thousands and demonstrate the power of community during these sacred days. Click below to learn how you can pack the pantry today.  

Last month, The Ark welcomed nearly 100 supporters to The Institute of Soil & Soul, a regenerative farm and educational center in Long Grove, for an evening focused on food security and the partnership between our two organizations. 

Guests enjoyed refreshments catered by Zelda’s, featuring produce grown right on the farm, and joined Soil & Soul founder Gabe Gould for a tour. Gabe shared the farm’s regenerative growing practices and how its partnership with The Ark has expanded over the last three years. 

Soil & Soul donates 99% of its harvest to The Ark, bringing fresh, nutritious, locally grown produce to community members who visit our food pantries. 

The evening also included a panel discussion about food insecurity, and the important role fresh food plays in supporting our community. 

It was a great evening of good food, conversation, and a firsthand look at a partnership that continues to grow. 

Each High Holiday season, we are called to show up for those in need and say, Hineni, Here I Am. 

For 55 years, The Ark has helped our community put that call into action. This year, more than 5,000 vulnerable Chicagoland Jews will turn to The Ark for support on their paths toward stability and self-reliance.

For one Ark client, Rebecca, rising rent, reduced SNAP benefits, and higher everyday costs made it increasingly difficult to keep up. With support from The Ark’s food pantry, financial counseling, and her case manager, she now has a plan to regain stability and move forward. 

As the High Holidays approach, join us in saying Hineni and help neighbors like Rebecca access the support they need with dignity and hope.

You can support The Ark’s vital work while sharing good wishes and new year’s greetings with friends and family. 

This year’s printed cards and personalized e-cards feature original artwork by participants in The Ark’s Gesher program, which enhances and enriches the lives of Jewish adults living with mental health challenges. The artwork was created during a special art class and submitted with permission to create these beautiful, one-of-a-kind cards. 

Join us at Zelda’s Table and Gelati Biscoti, 4018 Main St. in Skokie, on Wednesday, September 2, from 5:00–7:30 p.m. for an outdoor summer pop-up featuring a BBQ menu and pareve gelato. 

Even better, 10% of the evening's proceeds will benefit The Ark. Stop by, enjoy something delicious, and support The Ark at the same time. 

We hope to see you there!

• Turn a favorite summer activity into a way to give back. Host a lemonade stand, yard sale, or another family activity and share a portion of the proceeds with The Ark to support our clients. 
  
  
• Schedule an informational talk or tour for a first-hand understanding of how The Ark addresses the needs of our community.
  
  
• Make a connection between your company or organization and The Ark for an interactive program or service project.
  
  
• Start a Pack the Pantry collection drive. Challenge your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to help you collect any one item from our pantry list. 

To express interest or learn more, please fill out our volunteer interest form.

Explore Our Newest Career Opportunities!

Marketing and Communications Associate 

The Marketing and Communications Associate is responsible for creating and coordinating communications that engage clients, staff, donors, and community partners. This role manages day-to-day marketing and communications projects, producing clear, timely content that aligns with The Ark’s mission and organizational priorities. 

Warehouse Associate and Driver (Part-Time)

The Warehouse Associate and Driver supports The Ark’s Food Security program by transporting food, donations, medication, and supplies between locations and community partners. This role helps keep pantry operations organized, stocked, and running smoothly so clients receive reliable, dignified service.

Dental Hygienist (Part-Time)

The Dental Hygienist provides essential preventive care in The Ark’s free dental clinic, helping patients maintain their oral and overall health. This role delivers high-quality services, educates patients on effective oral care, and works closely with our dentist and healthcare team to support coordinated, patient-centered care. This is a meaningful opportunity to make a real impact by expanding access to critical dental care within the community.

Every gift to The Ark ensures that those facing hardship find a safety net and lifeline of support.