Thursday mornings used to mean an empty refrigerator and a long bus ride I couldn't always take. Now they mean fresh peppers on my counter and somebody who knows my name.
Delphine R.
Rosemont neighborhood, age 74
14,820
Meals distributed
comidas
7
Neighborhoods reached
vecindarios
38
Volunteers this month
voluntarios
The truck comes
to you.
Rescued produce, shelf-stable staples, and bilingual nutrition cards — rolled into your neighborhood before the sun gets mean.
We might already be
in your neighborhood.
Enter your ZIP code. We'll show you the nearest upcoming distribution — date, time, and exact cross street.
Driver & Community Liaison
Conductor y enlace comunitario
Jean-Pierre Dorélus
“The route is the job. But the people on the route — that's the reason.”
Jean-Pierre has driven the Harvest truck every Tuesday since the first run in 2022. He grew up in Cité Soleil and came to Chicago at nineteen. When the truck expanded to neighborhoods with large Haitian Creole-speaking populations, he became the first person many families heard speak their language in a year. He knows which blocks have the most elderly residents, which families are new, and which grandmothers will try to send him home with something they baked.
Ready to find us?
Find Our Next StopStore root vegetables without a refrigerator.
Three roots that live happily on your counter or in a cupboard — no cold storage needed.
Potatoes & sweet potatoes
Papas y batatas
Keep them in a cool, dark, dry spot — a cupboard, a paper bag under the sink, or a cardboard box away from sunlight. Never the refrigerator. Cold turns potato starch to sugar and makes them gritty.
Stored right: up to 3 weeks without refrigeration.
Onions & garlic
Cebollas y ajo
Mesh bag, paper bag, or a bowl on the counter — anywhere with airflow. Keep them away from potatoes (they release moisture that causes each other to spoil faster). Garlic cloves last up to 6 months unpeeled.
No fridge, no problem — airflow is the key.
Carrots & beets
Zanahorias y remolachas
Cut the greens off first — they pull moisture from the root. Wrap loosely in a damp cloth or paper towel and keep in the coolest spot in your home. They'll stay crisp for 1–2 weeks without refrigeration.
Cut the tops: extends shelf life by a full week.
Registered Dietitian
Dietista registrada
Marisol Vega-Torres
“A nutrition card that sits in a drawer helps nobody. I write them for the counter, the fridge door, the hand that's already cooking.”
Marisol designed the bilingual nutrition cards from scratch after realizing the ones she inherited were written for people with a car, a full kitchen, and unlimited time. Her cards assume a hot plate, a single pot, and produce that needs to be used today. She updates them every season based on what the truck actually carries — and she field-tests every recipe in her own apartment first.
Ready to find us?
Find Our Next StopWhat "sell-by" actually means — and what it doesn't.
Date labels cause more food waste than spoilage. Here's what the labels actually say.
"Sell-by" is for stores, not you
"Vender antes de" es para tiendas
Sell-by dates tell grocery stores when to rotate stock — not when food becomes unsafe. Most food is perfectly good for days or weeks past that date. Use your senses: smell it, look at it, taste a small amount.
Up to 40% of food waste happens because of date confusion.
"Best by" means quality, not safety
"Mejor antes de" es calidad, no seguridad
Canned beans past their "best by" date may lose a little texture, but they're still safe to eat for years. Dry pasta, rice, and oats are shelf-stable almost indefinitely if kept dry.
Canned goods: safe 2–5 years past "best by."
The truck runs on
people like you.
No experience required. Just show up, and we'll show you the rest.
Volunteer since 2023
Darius, age 17
Started logging community service hours for school. Two years later, he's the one who knows every regular by name — and he taught himself enough Haitian Creole to help Jean-Pierre on the north side routes.
Open shifts this month
Pick a time that works for you. We'll send details the night before.
Truck loader & distributor
Bilingual community greeter
Nutrition card translator
Produce sorting (warehouse)
Questions? Text (312) 555-0190 or email volunteer@harvest-pantry.org. We respond within 24 hours.
The truck is already
on its way.
Find your nearest stop, or ride with us. Either way, you're part of this now.