Our Mission
CareTeam is the MGR Foundation's volunteer program: CareTeam facilitates connections between volunteers and the communities we serve. We bring together various generations and cultures to confront social issues through innovative direct service events, without fees or fundraising from volunteers or partner organizations. This removes barriers, encourages social consciousness and empowers everyone involved. Through volunteering and community involvement, no social problem should continue to go unchallenged.
The CareTeam Overview
CareTeam is volunteer organization that began with a small group intent on making a difference. As we continue to grow, we become better able to direct resources to needy communities through structured coordination and effective management.
CareTeam is committed to creating and supporting productive, hands-on events that directly impact communities and inspire their inhabitants. All of this is accomplished with absolutely no fees, no fundraising requirements, and no barriers for our volunteers. In addition, we host reflective, post-event sessions designed to discuss and understand social problems.
CareTeam is firmly committed to community engagement and development. We seek to remove barriers, encourage social consciousness and empower our volunteers and the communities they serve. We challenge ourselves and society to make a difference in a meaningful way and to create a new vision for positive change.
(g)love works because it is so simple. All it takes is a willingness to walk up to someone and offer a CarePack. There are no forms to fill out. No restraints to giving. This is volunteering in its simplest form.
The (g)love story
(g)love began in 2001 when a group of friends aiming to help Chicago's homeless began handing out pairs of gloves. Walking the streets of Chicago, volunteers had the opportunity to talk to homeless individuals and begin to experience their needs and hardships—the makeshift communities, the people, and most notably,the cold—if only for a short time.
(g)Love began with 50 pairs of gloves in 2001; since then, over 1,200 CarePacks were distributed in the 2009-2010 season. The support for (g)love has grown from a handful of friends to numerous outside volunteers—including student groups, universities, sororities/fraternities and families—who come back year after year to show they care. A network of wholesalers and companies provide gear and supplies as a donation or at-cost.
Our wishlist of items includes: hats, gloves, socks, bars of soap, and granola bars. If you are able to provide any of these items, we can help arrange for pick up or drop off. Please email
careteam@mgrf.org for more information.
MGR's community pantry, The Food Circle, is a weekly event dedicated to providing Chicago's hungry and needy with healthy food.
The Food Circle (TFC) began in the summer of 2007, with a weekly food donation from Trader Joe's. In 2009, Whole Foods in Lincoln Park began to make weekly donations in support of TFC as well. Thanks to their continued help and support, over 5,000 bags of food have been distributed. We strive to provide healthy and balanced food to our patrons, and are known for consistently offering fresh fruits and vegetables.
We are very thankful to have Trader Joe's and Whole Foods' continued help addressing the need of low-income Chicago families for healthy food and assistance.
Volunteer with The Food Circle
Our weekly event would not be possible without the support of caring volunteers, who help us bag and distribute the goods every week. If you are interested in learning more about MGR's Community Pantry: The Food Circle or want to volunteer, please email Sarah.
