Chicago food pantries are serving more people but seeing fewer volunteers

Natia Barnett, program expansion manager at Nourishing Hope, organizes boxes of groceries during a recent food distribution event outside G & A Senior Residence of Eastgate Village in the Bronzeville neighborhood. (Pat Nabong/Sun-Times)

Natia Barnett sometimes finds herself packing her car with food when there aren’t enough volunteers to make deliveries to senior citizens and those living with disabilities.

Barnett, the program expansion manager at the pantry Nourishing Hope, said she wants the delivery program to reach more buildings on the South and West sides.