A Just Harvest

A Just Harvest (AJH) previously known as Good News Community Kitchen (GNCK) began as a ministry of the Good News Community Church (UCC) in 1983. Initially, meals were served a few days each week in the “North of Howard” neighborhood of Rogers Park, on the furthest northern border of Chicago. Today, with the help of more than 30 partnering congregations and community organizations, AJH is the highest capacity community kitchen in the metropolitan Chicago area. AJH serves a hot nutritious meal 365 days per year. Last year, more than 2,500 volunteers worked with AJH staff to serve 56,000 hot meals to an average of 120 patrons per night.

AJH shares space with Good News Community Church. Because of the founding relationship and historic ties, the Church views the AJH as one of its primary ministires. Many church members are served by the AJH, through meals, and volunteer in serving at the AJH. Good News Community Church members participated in and helped guide the AJH through its transition from solely a church ministry to an independent 501(c)(3) organization with its own governing board, fundraising and extensive network of volunteers. The Good News Community Church is extremely proud of the fine work the AJH has done and continues to do in the community.

Despite its name, the AJH is more than just a “soup kitchen.” Together with community residents and congregational partners, patrons are engaged in advocacy to address the core issues that contribute to hunger and poverty. AJH created Northside POWER (People Organized to Work, Educate and Restore) and the Northshore Caucus to work on making neighborhood streets safer, to improve community health care, and develop local pre-apprenticeship job training which will help patrons and area residents get access to living wage construction jobs. Church members are active in these important community organizing efforts.