Groups give warm meals, helping hand to homeless living under Kennedy Expy.
The smell of fresh Middle Eastern cuisine wafted through the air below the Kennedy Expressway Thursday, past a row of tents, line of cars and several members of local community groups who came out to lend a hand to the area’s homeless.
Two groups, Georgia Doty Comprehensive Health and Zakat Foundation of America, teamed up to bring the warm meal, as well as, groceries, sanitary products and PPE to those who live under the overpass near West Fullerton in Bucktown.
Don Doty, president and CEO of Georgia Doty Comprehensive Health, which works to provide health awareness and education, said that as a disabled veteran, he is committed to reaching those that are underserved to provide essential resources and services.
He said the event marked the first of many similar ones his group has planned this year.
Claudia Martinez, program manager at Zakat Foundation of America, said during Ramadan it provides fresh meals to the homeless every week in different locations. The group appeals to Muslims who are fasting, who also look to give back during this time.
“Our campaign is, ‘Feel the hunger to do good,’” Martinez said. “. . . It’s important for us to be in our city and involved.”
The foundation handed out meals from Al Bawadi Grill, which has locations in Niles and Bridgeview.
Georgia Doty COO Beverly Walker said it was important that her organization got involved because COVID-19 has “caused a lot of devastation in the community” and led to rising unemployment.
At the event, volunteers gave out canned goods, water, rescue blankets and care kits with disposable gloves, hand sanitizer, masks, soap, washcloths and toothpaste.
Walker said all the supplies distributed were possible through donations. In February, Georgia Doty Comprehensive Health received a $2,000 donation from Jewel Osco, and Heartfield Chicago donated 100 reusable masks and 100 bottles of hand sanitizer.
Because the homeless are at greater risk for adverse health conditions like COVID-19, Doty said his organization partnered with Loretto Hospital to provide general health screenings and COVID-19 tests. However, none of the residents elected to leave their tents to take part in the screenings.
Albert Alexander, owner of the Chicago-based organization A Special Place for Veterans, also was at the event Thursday. He said its holistic human health program works to house veterans, get them back into the workforce and feed the homeless, among other things.
“I [want] people to know that people still care, and that even though this is only a little bit, we’re still willing to do it as often as we can,” Alexander said.