On Nov. 9, GroceryLand—the food-providing arm of the organization Vital Bridges—recognized its 10th anniversary with an event at the North Side location, 5543 N. Broadway.
Vital Bridges also noted that it reached the milestone of preparing its six millionth meal for a client. GroceryLand provides free weekly food supplies to men, women, and children impacted by HIV/AIDS. There are six grocery centers—three in the city and three in the suburbs. Vital Bridges, the 2002 merger of Open Hand Chicago, Community Response, and the HIV Coalition, helps those with HIV/AIDS through food, housing, case management, nutrition, and prevention programs.
Indeed, the mood at the program was not entirely celebratory. 'We never thought that we'd be fixing six million meals ... but that's the reality,' said Debbie Hinde, president and CEO of Vital Bridges. However, she quickly added that reaching the milestone required the commitment of volunteers and members of the community.
Lori Cannon—the coordinator of the North Side GroceryLand who Hinde described as 'the force that developed this program'—reflected on the start of the Open Hand program and the contributions of everyone from artist David Csiscko to the very first clients. Cannon also talked about how hard work and faith were integral to the program's success.
A moving moment occurred when Nick Cook, an activist from the West Coast, spoke about how the services have helped him. 'I get emotional thinking about the 10 years because there were times that even coming once a week was a touchstone,' Cook said. He went on to add that it was hopeful to him that Vital Bridges is involved because, to him, individuals matter to the organization.
The program honored several organizations that have been invaluable in helping Vital Bridges function. Key honorees included the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the Chicago Department of Public Health ( CDPH ) , the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the Sidetrack family. In praising CDPH, Hinde said the office is in 'Vital Bridges's corner and in the corner of everyone who lives with HIV and AIDS.'
Vital Bridges also unveiled a special logo that Csiscko created for the anniversary. The symbol consists of a bird holding a fork under its left wing while sitting on a cake. The logo will be on commemorative T-shirts and mementos of GroceryLand's 10th anniversary.
There was a stand that listed all of the people who have helped Vital Bridges, including 'volunteer superstars,' outstanding organizations ( such as Bailiwick Theatre and Big Gay Cocktail Club ) , and the honorees who were recognized at the program.
Also on display was a City Council resolution that Ald. Helen Shiller presented on Sept. 29. The declaration notes, among other things, the beginnings of Open Hand, Vital Bridges, and GroceryLand and reads, in part: 'Be it resolved, that we, the Mayor and members of the Chicago City Council ... do hereby congratulate GroceryLand on [ its ] tenth anniversary and recognize the work of their dedicated volunteers, staff and board members.'