Join the Celebration!
Five years ago, on May 27, 2021, Meals in the Meantime hosted its first pantry. Five years later, we celebrate a movement that continues to fill the food gap with nourishment and dignity throughout the Chicagoland south suburbs. Join us on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at Tuscany Falls in Mokena, Illinois, for our Five-Year Anniversary Gala, a formal evening of elegance and impact. This is our moment to pause, reflect, and boldly celebrate what our village has made possible.
Helping people who are experiencing food insecurity is at the heart of all that we do. Through our mobile pop-up food pantries, we provide grocery bags filled with free, fresh, healthy, high-quality food. In five years, we have distributed more than 32 tons of food across the five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and dairy. Our brand is strong because our mission is clear and our commitment is unwavering. During this special evening, we will celebrate our partners, suppliers, gift-givers, and volunteers and honor key contributors with the Meals in the Meantime Village Awards.
This gala is both a celebration and a critically important fundraiser. Proceeds support the cost of food acquisition so we can continue helping individuals and families who need food. Every ticket strengthens the village. Every guest fuels impact. Join us for a formal affair filled with gratitude, purpose, and bold vision for the future. Come dressed in elegance. Come ready to celebrate. Join us at the gala and become part of the village that is actively fighting food insecurity and building a future rooted in nourishment and dignity.
We are excited to share that Dion Dawson is the keynote speaker for the Meals in the Meantime Five-Year Anniversary Gala!
Dion is the visionary behind Dion's Chicago Dream and CEO of Cosmic Crate, a powerful voice for food justice, and a leader who is transforming how communities access fresh, healthy food. His work and passion perfectly align with the mission of Meals in the Meantime to fill the food gap with nourishment and dignity throughout the Chicagoland south suburbs.
With Dion Dawson taking the stage, this will be an unforgettable evening of inspiration, celebration, and purpose.
We are proud to celebrate the people and partners who have helped build the village behind Meals in the Meantime with the Village Awards at our Five-Year Anniversary Gala.
These awards honor the individuals and organizations whose support has made our mission possible, from our very first pantry to the movement we are today.
The Village Awards celebrate the power of community and the incredible village that continues to help us fill the food gap with nourishment and dignity throughout the Chicagoland south suburbs.