Ending hunger in our region
Share Food Share Love (SFSL) is the community-supported food pantry that is helping to end food insecurity in our region. Together with our community-based partners, we are building a network of supportive services to address the many causes of hunger. We envision a time, not far off, when our participating communities are uplifted from hunger, because enough of us came together to uplift all of us.
Church closing gave rise to a bold idea...
As a last act of faith, the congregants of the former Faith Lutheran Church in Brookfield donated their church property to the startup of a non-denominational food pantry. Sale of the property paid off the mortgage for the new pantry’s building. This established the space necessary for expanding services and launched a bold vision, mission, and strategy for creating community-based change.
Our Core Values
Care and Love... compel us to act to end hunger, including the causes of hunger.
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” – Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, Nobel prize winner
Volunteerism... enables all of us to make a difference that is priceless.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing
that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
Community... starts with each of us caring about bringing an end to hunger in our area.
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” – Margaret J. Wheatley
Individual Dignity... is the north star by which we will see our way forward.
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right
to dignity and a decent life.” – Nelson Mandela
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” – Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor, Nobel prize winner
Volunteerism... enables all of us to make a difference that is priceless.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing
that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
Community... starts with each of us caring about bringing an end to hunger in our area.
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” – Margaret J. Wheatley
Individual Dignity... is the north star by which we will see our way forward.
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right
to dignity and a decent life.” – Nelson Mandela
Our Story: Keeping the Faith, Uplifting Neighbors
2015 -- Pantry opens in the basement of the Faith Lutheran Church in Brookfield. Establishes as an independent,
501 (c) 3 charitable organization. An agency of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
2016 -- Pantry is dedicated to the memory of Cathy Edwards. A longtime resident and elected official, Cathy led in
the creation of the pantry and was always very generous with her time and her counsel.
2021 -- Pantry moves to 9030 Brookfield Avenue in Brookfield. The 7,000 square foot facility opens the way to
expansions in food provision, while establishing a regional hub for collaboratively ending the causes of hunger.
2022 -- Brookfield’s 100-year-old Faith Lutheran Church closes. As a final act of love and hope, church members
vote to donate ownership of the building to the pantry, such that its sale would assure the pantry’s launch.
2023 -- Pantry sells the church and grounds to another congregation. Proceeds of the sale enable the pantry to
shed all debt associated with the purchase of its own building. Unburdened by the debt, the pantry can now flow
all donor contributions directly toward achieving its vision, mission, and strategy for change.
501 (c) 3 charitable organization. An agency of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
2016 -- Pantry is dedicated to the memory of Cathy Edwards. A longtime resident and elected official, Cathy led in
the creation of the pantry and was always very generous with her time and her counsel.
2021 -- Pantry moves to 9030 Brookfield Avenue in Brookfield. The 7,000 square foot facility opens the way to
expansions in food provision, while establishing a regional hub for collaboratively ending the causes of hunger.
2022 -- Brookfield’s 100-year-old Faith Lutheran Church closes. As a final act of love and hope, church members
vote to donate ownership of the building to the pantry, such that its sale would assure the pantry’s launch.
2023 -- Pantry sells the church and grounds to another congregation. Proceeds of the sale enable the pantry to
shed all debt associated with the purchase of its own building. Unburdened by the debt, the pantry can now flow
all donor contributions directly toward achieving its vision, mission, and strategy for change.
Our Vision and Mission
We envision a time not far off when our communities are uplifted from hunger and income insecurity, because
enough of us came together to uplift neighbors of all faiths and ethnicities. Our daily mission is to take a leading
role in the development of a localized infrastructure for ending hunger, by leveraging our unique position as a
community-based food pantry to organize and mobilize.
enough of us came together to uplift neighbors of all faiths and ethnicities. Our daily mission is to take a leading
role in the development of a localized infrastructure for ending hunger, by leveraging our unique position as a
community-based food pantry to organize and mobilize.
Our Strategy for Ending Food Insecurity
We will end food insecurity in our region by serving all neighbors in the following two ways: By offering nutritional
food choices to all neighbors in need. And by serving as a community-based hub for the mobilization of resources
that will end the causes of hunger in our region.
food choices to all neighbors in need. And by serving as a community-based hub for the mobilization of resources
that will end the causes of hunger in our region.
Board of Directors
Maya Brooks, Jim Cassaro, John Dumas. Karen Gilhooly, Greg Martin, Jessica Meyer, John Barnett