Cinespace's Huge Donation to Chicago Relief Effort

By Screenmag

Cinespace Chicago Film Studios is donating 20,000 square feet of studio space to the Greater Chicago Food Depository for storage of food boxes for families affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

This donation supports the Food Depository’s ongoing efforts to address the increased risk for food insecurity as a result of COVID-19. The economic impact from business and school closures are expected to disproportionately impact Cook County’s lower-income families and hourly workers. As part of the Food Depository’s response to the crisis, staff and volunteers have been packing thousands of boxes of shelf-stable food for families in need.

Cinespace Film Studios

GCFD: "Our community must join together to ensure none of our neighbors go hungry"

This generous donation from Cinespace frees up more room in the Food Depository’s”This generous donation from Cinespace frees up more room in the Food Depository’s”This generous donation from Cinespace frees up more room in the Food Depository’sThis generous donation from Cinespace frees up more room in the Food Depository’s facility for staff and volunteers to continue building those boxes in the weeks ahead.

“As we face this unprecedented public health and economic crisis, our community must join together to ensure none of our neighbors go hungry,” said Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Food Depository. “We are incredibly grateful for Cinespace’s donation, which allows us to more efficiently use our resources to respond to the growing need.”

Five days a week, Food Depository staff and volunteers pack boxes filled with canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, rice and other non-perishable items that are being distributed to families in need across Chicago and Cook County. However, social distancing recommendations currently limit the number of volunteers the Food Depository can host per session and require more room than usual.

Pissios: "When a neighbor calls and asks for help, you do it!”

Cinespace’s donation frees up an additional 20,000 square feet in the Food Depository’s warehouse to spread out volunteer projects and maximize our capacity to produce as many boxes as possible.

The Food Depository will start using Cinespace’s open studio in the Little Village neighborhood this week.

“This may be a global health issue, but it's really about the people and the businesses in your neighborhood. When a neighbor calls and asks for help, you do it!” said Alex Pissios, president and CEO of Cinespace Chicago Film Studios. “I'm thrilled that our studios in Little Village can play a role in making sure that the Greater Chicago Food Depository can continue to feed families in Cook County during this public health crisis.”

The Food Depository is thankful to all of its supporters who have stepped up to help our most vulnerable neighbors during this time. To make a donation, please visit chicagosfoodbank.org/covid