Meeting the Moment, Together

Then a child comes to school hungry, learning becomes a challenge. When parents skip meals to keep the lights on, hope for a brighter future dims. Meeting basic needs is more than just getting enough food to survive, it’s about creating space for families to imagine better futures for themselves.

The need for consistent access to food is on the rise. We’ve seen a 27% increase in visitors coming through our pantry in the past year, which now serves more than 1,000 unique individuals annually. With the upcoming closure of our longtime neighbor, Billie’s Food Pantry, the neighborhood is at risk of losing access to The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal initiative that provides supplemental food to eligible households. We’re teaming up with Billie’s to ensure this resource stays in our community.

To meet this growing need, our current pop-up pantry will transform into a permanent space, located just 100 steps from Mary Rigg.

This new location will be open three additional days each week, with plans to expand to five days. It will offer more nutritious foods and give families greater choice in selecting items that fit their dietary needs and preferences.

From offering education and recreation to immigrants in the 1910s, launching computer classes in the 1990s, to expanding our food pantry in 2025, Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center has always evolved to meet the moment. Each decade has brought new challenges, and we’ve responded with programs that reflect the needs, hopes, and strengths of our neighbors.

As we turn the page to this new chapter, the spirit that has guided us for over a century remains unchanged. We continue to walk alongside our community: building connection, creating opportunity, and serving with compassion.