SEIU Local 73 Donation Helps Strengthen West Side Food Pantry

A late-February community resource fair at United for Better Living brought together residents, service providers, and local institutions in Garfield Park for a day focused on healing, support, and practical neighborhood resources.

Held Feb. 28 at United for Better Living’s headquarters, 4540 W. Washington Blvd., the nonprofit’s Community Healing Resource Fair marked the close of Black History Month while highlighting services available to West Side families.

A key moment during the event came when members of SEIU Local 73 presented a $3,000 check to support one of United for Better Living’s two food pantries, helping expand the organization’s ability to serve residents facing food insecurity. 

Kathy Allison, director of United for Better Living, said the donation will help sustain a range of services the organization provides year-round.

“We have several programs here — a violence prevention program, GED classes, literacy support, and two food pantries,” Allison said. “One pantry operates every Saturday, and another is held on the second Friday of each month for seniors only. We also have a seniors computer class on Wednesdays, and a school program at 230 N. Kolmar.”

Allison said her long tenure with the organization reflects a deep commitment to the community.

“Bishop Allison brought me off my job and put me here, and I haven’t moved at all,” she said.

The fair featured about a dozen vendors, including small businesses, nonprofits, and financial institutions offering information on health resources, education programs, and financial services.

Among them was Great Lakes Credit Union, whose outreach team promoted services available through Leaders Network Financial, a community-based credit union branch at 5600 W. Madison St. in Austin.

Reggie Little, a business development specialist with Great Lakes Credit Union, said events like the fair are an important way to connect residents with financial tools they may not realize are available.

“We’re trying to get out to events like this on weekends, partnering with local pastors, getting congregations involved, spreading the word, and giving people opportunities to learn about services they may not know about,” Little said.

Because Great Lakes operates as a nonprofit financial institution, Little said its business model differs from many traditional banks.

“Being a nonprofit, the money we make goes back into our members,” he said. “Any profits we make go back into our products, which is why we don’t charge for things like cashier’s checks.”

Organizers said the fair reflected United for Better Living’s broader mission of creating spaces where residents can access practical support while strengthening neighborhood connections.