WKA spent the afternoon with Care for Real clients:
Sylvia: lives in the neighborhood, has experienced multiple versions of CfR distribution line; Tom: lives in the neighborhood; Rita: lives in the neighborhood; Robert: musician, retired, CfR provides everything that he needs; Jim: lives in the neighborhood.

HOW DOES CARE FOR REAL MAKE YOU FEEL?

• – Care for Real is a lifesaver
• – Thankful for healthy meals; thankful for food distributed
• -Care for Real lives up to it’s names
• -Care for Real is the best pantry in Chicago – they know your dietary needs;
• – Care for Real understands us
• -Jim/Sylvia – we are allowed to make requests; flexibility in handling clients needs
• -Robert – Care for Real seems to select healthy foods/meals from those donated
• -Makes me feel special (volunteers will help me to my taxi)
• -Care for Real really caters to clients needs; provides a lot of choice
• -Have learned about different foods since coming to Care for Real
• -Learning all the time
• – Appreciate the speed of distribution; clients enjoy socializing during the wait (Jim comes every week even though he doesn’t need to – he shares the extra food received with neighbors)
• -Clothing closet has great stuff, clean and clothes with buttons/zippers
• -Food quality control at Care for Real is great

CLIENT RECOMMENDATIONS

-Easy access to a bathroom
-Access to a dressing room in the clothing closet. There is not enough space in the clothing closet for clients to shop and another client to pass by
-Exterior canopy for shelter with heating in winter; an area for clients to sit and eat if needed
-More space, open with room for folks to spread out
-Training/education classes on nutrition
-A room with a kitchen/classroom for cooking classes. Partnerships with outside organizations such as culinary classes
-Chairs with no fabric seats
-Provide bright and cheery entertainment
-Recommends Enence – translation device for volunteers translating for clients

• Care for Real provided more services/programs before COVID – we would like those programs to be re-introduced (resume support, wrap around services etc.)
• -Volunteers may benefit from being inside
• – The distribution line is incredibility fast and efficient- would not change that
• -Rita likes distribution on the outside – does not want to return to inside distribution.
• -Sylvia wants to be inside for distribution; feels exposed on the sidewalk

-Distribution model: Flexible/modified choice system; Hybrid system? Once per month client choice with distribution inside, with remaining distribution as is.