EDGEWATER — Care for Real, a 43-year-old food pantry on Sheridan Road, hosted the inaugural "Edge Walk to End Hunger" Saturday morning.
The pantry raised money and awareness about the rising need for healthy food in Chicago, said Lyle Allen, the pantry's director.
Care for Real, at 5339 N. Sheridan Road, served more than 1 million pounds of food last year. A record 5,200 people were served last month, said Allen, formerly a manager at Green City Market.
"When the economy collapsed, so many people found themselves unemployed or underemployed," he said. "I share a common goal with my colleagues: to help neighbors in need."
One of those people is 48-year-old Paul Gabriel, who was collecting groceries at the pantry Friday morning.
He said he now works part-time as a caterer, but needs food from the pantry to fill in the gaps.
"I do rely on this," he said.
The 2.6-mile walk began 9 a.m. Saturday morning with Rickover Naval Academy's 60-piece marching band. Participants snaked through the neighborhood and ended the walk at the park east of Park Tower at Balmoral Avenue.
