Celebrate 15 Years of Common Pantry’s “I Am Your Neighbor” Party

Mark your calendar for the biggest party of the year! Friday, October 2nd is the 15th anniversary of Common Pantry‘s all-out annual fundraiser, the I Am Your Neighbor party.

If you’ve never been to I Am Your Neighbor before, hear me out: maybe you’ve been to a fundraising gala or two, and you think they’re well-intentioned but kind of stuffy, and whoever’s controlling the music should be forcibly ejected because people are avoiding the dance floor like it’s lava. I get it.

But here’s the thing: you haven’t been to I Am Your Neighbor. This is, like, an actual party. They’re buying out Artifact Events for the night, and that place is going to be loaded to the gills with the kind of stuff that’ll make you forget about every stuffy, boring event you’ve ever been to. With dozens of local food and bev vendors, an entire floor dedicated to party games, a casino floor featuring a legitimate HIGH-STAKES POKER TOURNAMENT, and–hold onto your pants–a one-night-only revival of Hidden Cove Karaoke, you’re going to want to be there. (Seriously, imagine the FOMO!)

Plus, it’s all for a good cause! Let’s talk a little more about that. Now in its 59th year as the city’s longest continually operating food pantry, Common Pantry is a welcoming community hub for Chicagoans in need, delivering hot meals, nutritious groceries, and other critical services with dignity and respect.

“As the foundation of our work and mission, our grocery distribution directly combats food by providing access to quality, nutrient-dense foods to guests on a monthly basis. Last year we continued to serve a record high number of families and individuals – we provided groceries to 12,976 families, equating to over 39,573 individuals.” (Common Pantry’s 2025 Annual Impact Report)

We can all agree that the tireless humanitarian work of Common Pantry and its volunteers is something worth celebrating, especially as increasing economic pressures drive food insecurity citywide, with 25% of people in the Chicago area facing food insecurity today (Greater Chicagoland Hunger Report).

Common Pantry works hard to serve its community, but it knows how to plays hard too. That’s what I Am Your Neighbor is all about: bringing folks together for a true celebration of life, community, and the pursuit of a better world. Come dance, laugh, eat, drink and celebrate the community that makes it all possible – everything goes straight toward Common Pantry’s mission to end hunger in our neighborhood. Fifteen years. One night. Food, drinks, music and a whole lot of fun. See you at the poker table!