Kelli on Food Justice + Menu

As we prepare for our week of service this year, I am mindful of the meals that we will be eating during Teen Service Week. Food is something that each of us partake in and, as a result, is an issue of justice. As we begin to center our hearts around inequality and injustice throughout Chicago and around the world, I have spent many days contemplating how we address food justice on Teen Service Week and how the consumption of food is inextricably linked to poverty. How do we engage this issue of justice and strive toward solidarity with the poor while still nourishing our bodies?

I am also mindful that while we engage teenagers who are between the ages of 15 and 18, that in the United States, 22% of children under the age of 18 are in poverty and live in food insecure households.

I believe it vital to our social consciousness that we partake of food that is nourishing to our bodies and are aware of the pathways by which it travels to our plates. Therefore, Teen Service Week will strive this year to eat food that is as close to the earth as possible, that was grown by human hands on farms that are good to their workers, and prepared by hands that value human dignity over fast, cheap, and easy consumption. This year, we will simplify our meals as much as possible while still providing our bodies with the nutrition and energy that we need to serve others with love, dignity, and respect. We will also remember those who grew our food in prayer and reflection throughout the week and ask for their blessing.

As many incredible folks have generously enjoyed contributing to our meals on Teen Service Week in the past, I would like to provide a list of ingredients with which we will be cooking wholesome, nutritious, socially conscious meals on Teen Service Week this year.

If you feel led to participate in our mindful exercise in food justice this year, please consider donating food items from this list. We value organic and local ingredients whenever possible and would love things directly from your garden or favorite farmers market! 

Almonds (shelled, as many as possible)
Apple Cider Vinegar (1 bottle)
Avocados (6-10, fresh)
Baking Soda (1 box)
Bananas (as many as possible)
Basil (fresh)
Black Beans (1lb dried or 6 cans)
Black Olives (2 cans)
Blueberries (as many as possible)
Burger Buns (75ish buns)
Butter (8 sticks, Regular and Soy)
Butterscotch Chips (1pkg)
Canola Oil
Carrots (fresh, as many as possible)
Celery (fresh, as much as possible)
Cheese (10 pkgs shredded for pizza, soy shredded cheese)
Cilantro (1 bunch, fresh)
Chickpeas (dried or canned)
Coffee (fair trade)
Coffee Creamer (1 cont)
Cucumbers (as many as possible, fresh)
Dried Fruit as much as possible
Eggs (4 dozen)
Flour (Non-bleached, All Purpose)
Garlic (as much as possible, fresh)
Gluten-free Bread (2 loaves)
Gluten-free Burger Buns
Gluten-Free Homemade Cookies (1 doz)
Gluten-free Oats (2lbs)
Gluten-free Pancake Mix (1 box)
Gluten-free Pasta (1 pkg)
Gluten-free Pizza (2 frozen)
Green Onions (as much as possible, fresh)
Honey (1 quart)
Lemons (or lemon juice)
Lentils (1 lb Red)
Lettuce (as much as possible, fresh)
Limes (4, fresh)
M+Ms (2 lg bags, plain)
Maple Syrup
Milk (8 gallons-2%, 4 cans-Coconut)
Mushrooms (as much as possible, fresh)
Mustard (1 bottle)
Olive Oil
Onions (as much as possible, fresh)
Pasta (10 boxes/pkgs, Fusilli or corkscrew)
Peanuts (10lbs, shelled)
Peppers (fresh green, red, hot, as many as possible)
Pizza Crusts (10, ready to bake)
Popcorn (1lb, kernels, not instant)
Potatoes (10lbs)
Pretzels (2 bags)
Pretzel Sticks (2 bags)
Radishes (as many as possible)
Raisins (as many as possible)
Rolled Oats (10 lbs)
Soy Cheese (shredded)
Soy Milk (1-gallon)
Soy Yogurt (2-quarts)
Spinach (fresh, as much as possible)
Strawberries (15 quarts, fresh -- or -- as much as possible)
Sugar (1 pkg, Raw, non-bleached)
Sunflower Seeds (as much as possible)
Tomatoes (fresh, as many as possible)
Tomato Sauce (15 jars/cans) (Have 4, need 11 more)
Walnuts (shelled, as many as possible)

Items that we can't get enough of!
Dried Fruit
Fresh Fruit (any kind)
Fresh Vegetables (any kind)
Homemade Cookies (20 doz)
Homemade Desserts
Nuts
Seeds

Please email us with your intended donation by June 20th so that we may grocery shop for the remaining ingredients pre-week. We can always use the "items we can't get enough of" in any quantity up to the week!

We are so appreciative of your support and dedication to Teen Service Week. This week would NOT be possible without you.