A nonprofit in Blue Island is closing in on its goal of donating 2,000 pounds of food to community members as Hunger Action Month comes to an end.
The Hope Center highlighted its accomplishments Tuesday on Hunger Action Day, a day dedicated to addressing food insecurity across the country that was created by the nonprofit organization Feeding America.
Founded in 2017, the Hope Center started as a church that focused on giving back to the Blue Island community and eliminating food insecurity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the center primarily conducted food distributions to local pantries such as Blue Cap. In the years since, its scope has widened.
Geno McKenna, indoor garden director, said every year the Hope Center expands even further as a nonprofit dedicated to community economic development through education and skill building.
“We’re really trying to tackle food insecurity in the Blue Island area by getting people inspired and involved to either garden on their own or find ways that they can support community gardening and community agriculture,” McKenna said.
To address food insecurity and teach people about growing their food, the Hope Center has both an indoor and outdoor garden.
In the indoor garden, there are six growing towers that were donated by Fork Farms, an agricultural technology company. These towers are called Flex Farms and can grow up to 25 pounds of fresh food every four to five weeks, according to McKenna.
McKenna said these towers are currently growing a variety of leafy greens, including different types of lettuce such as romaine. Right now, the different lettuce plants in the growing towers are between one and four weeks old.
He said they have also started growing flowers, basil, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.
McKenna said a lot of their operations are leading up next year’s goal of leading a Blue Island to Food Island Initiative.
“This past year has been a lot of just working towards getting everything operational, getting to the part where we can go full steam ahead on producing food and really making an impact on food insecurity in the Blue Island area,” McKenna said.
Rocio Velis De Arevalo, outdoor garden director, said the center also operates an aquaponic system, a growing system that converts fish waste into nutrients for plants. There is also a maker space that has freezers and dehydrating machines.
Outdoors, the center has an egg-producing chicken coop and grows flowers, native plants, vegetables and fruit trees — many of which Arevalo said people would not otherwise have access to, such as pawpaws and plums.
By having these growing systems and gardens, McKenna said, the Hope Center can provide fresh produce all year long to those that need it.
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Arevalo said the Blue Island area is considered a food desert, where residents have limited access to supermarkets and fresh food.
“When we go to a food pantry, they are already expecting us,” Arevalo said. “Some people decide to wait for us to come because they know our stuff is really fresh.”
Arevalo said the Hope Center uses community feedback to decide what items are most needed. She said the feedback the center typically receives is that people want everything they have to offer.
According to data from Feeding America, 15.1% of Cook County residents faced food insecurity during 2024, the latest year for which statistics are available.
Struggles surrounding food insecurity have been exacerbated by recent changes in the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program. About 120,000 Illinois residents lost access to their SNAP benefits in May 2026 following new work requirements, according to news reports.
Eligibility requirements for SNAP benefits now require “able bodied” adults ages 18 to 64 who do not have children under 14 to work, volunteer or participate in job training or educational programs for at least 80 hours a month, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Arevalo said educating people about growing plants within their homes can help address food insecurity by increasing accessibility to fresh produce, which also becomes cost effective over time.
“It’s a skill that a couple of generations back, we had it,” Arevalo said. “We’ve lost it the past couple of generations, and so just having that skill, people can start growing,” Arevalo said.
Those wanting to get involved with the Hope Center can sign up to volunteer, staff members said.
Leticia Zarate, who lives in Midlothian, started volunteering at The Hope Center with her kids almost four years ago. What started as something enjoyable for her and her kids has become routine, and they have even started learning how to grow plants at home.
“We get to meet a lot of people, and my kids get to interact with others.” Zarate said. “And just being helpful with everyone.”
Beyond volunteering, community members can sign up for workshops and learning opportunities on topics such as garden skills and car maintenance, as well as programs on science, technology engineering, arts and math.
“We want to educate the community but also teach the best technologies to do it,” Arevalo said.