PRISM (People Responding In Social Ministry)

Your donation can help PRISM meet the basic needs of food, clothing, and housing for over 7,000 northwest suburban households each year. PRISM is here and will continue to be here as a trusted community resource. Your gift puts dinner on the table for the family next door, a sandwich in your child’s schoolmate's lunch bag, or breakfast on-the-go for your co-worker who is running late.

"I have three school-age children and I struggle to afford enough fresh, healthy food for them throughout the month. After I visit PRISM, our fridge is full and my children's stomachs are happy."

In 1970, local community members started PRISM after realizing their neighbors were struggling to provide food for their families. Together with several faith organizations, PRISM became established as a food and basic needs resource in the northwest suburbs. Throughout the years, PRISM adapted its programs and services to best fit the needs of the community, adding homelessness prevention as one of its core programs. PRISM's current services include Marketplace Food Shelf, Housing Programs, Shop for Change Thrift Shop, and Children's Programs.  

50 years later, our neighbors are still hungry and experiencing housing instability. Hunger instability numbers are rising at historic rates, while the impacts of COVID19 continue to widen the disparities already disproportionately affecting the families we serve. Prior to COVID19, 1 in 11 families experienced food insecurity. Today, that number has jumped to 1 in 6 families. We haven’t seen these numbers since the Great Depression. 

At PRISM we have a culture that believes everyone is a whole and complete individual, and all of our participants are treated with dignity, compassion and respect.

"PRISM is different. It provided me the help my family needed to get through a tough time, and showed me that asking for help can be empowering. I am stronger and better after visiting PRISM."

PRISM: Building healthy, stable lives.