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- In 1989, the Church Federation of Greater Chicago was forced to close their doors. Over eighty relief agencies were left with one less resource to provide produce and food staples.
- Church Federation workers Beverly Decker and Barbara Uteg took the initiative to recruit co-workers at the Church Federation as well as other friends developed a plan to form a new organization to continue the mission of feeding the hungry. Soon, the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation was formed.
- In 1990 a new organization is incorporated with the State of Illinois under the name of the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation and obtains federal and state 501c3 status as a non-profit, tax exempt organization.
- CAHF secures office space at 2280 S. Halsted, sharing a home with Catholic Charities.
- Strube Vegetable and Celery donates warehouse space at South Water Market. It is from this warehouse that all distributions will be staged.
- In 1994 CAHF’s board of directors engaged in a feasibility study to determine the need and/or possibility of a capital campaign. Need is determined and a capital campaign is launched in January, 1995, with the goal of obtaining a permanent home and self-sufficiency as an organization.
- A capital campaign committee was formed and a property search began.
- In June, 1995, a 100-hole golf marathon, organized by Dan Gibbons and his family and friends, netted $40,000. Funds raised at the golf marathon were used for the down payment of the building purchased in early 1996 at 4345 W. Division St., Chicago, the current home of CAHF.
- Other Capital Campaign funds and a loan from the Illinois Facilities Fund allowed renovation and infrastructure changes to the newly purchased property at 4345 W. Division St.
- With infrastructure and renovations complete and state and city codes satisfied, the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation moved into their new home, with a grand opening on June 18, 1998. CAHF was now self-sufficient.
- January, 1999, “Oliver’s Kitchen”, the first welfare-to-work culinary program in the City of Chicago to be certified by Illinois State Board of Education, opens its doors.
- March, 1999, Class # 1 graduates from “Oliver’s Kitchen”.
- June, 2005, Beverly Decker, founding Executive Director, retires. Dan Gibbons assumes the Executive Director position on July 1, 2005.
- October, 2006, the Westside Providers Network is founded by CAHF. The WPN brings together all basic human needs providers on the west side and beyond.
- June, 2007, “Oliver’s Kitchen” graduates it’s 500th student.
- August, 2007, the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago – CHIC, partners with “Oliver’s Kitchen” to provide externs as mentors and to assist with the daily curriculum. CHIC is a member of the world-renown Le Cordon Bleu Program.
- September, 2007, Project Newtrition is born. The program, collaboration with Dominican University Social Work graduate interns, is focused on providing nutrition education to food pantry users.
- November, 2007, “Oliver’s Kitchen” publishes a cookbook…”Oliver’s Kitchen: The First Decade”.
- April, 2008, the Westside Providers Network (WPN) membership grows to 75 agencies.

