Staff Spotlight: Eva Gertzfeld

For Eva Gertzfeld, housing has always been the foundation of one’s safety and empowerment. After more than 25 years in housing and human services, she still sees the power of something as simple as a key.  A Career Rooted in Compassion Eva grew up in northern Romania, in a region shaped by layered histories and cultures. Yiddish, […]

A Transformative Gift for Housing Stability 

Bill and Karyn Silverstein have long believed in the power of community to help people through moments of uncertainty. For years, they have demonstrated this commitment through their philanthropic support, volunteer efforts, and active leadership on critical issues facing the Chicago Jewish community.  Now, through a generous $1 million endowment gift to The Ark, they are creating […]

Strengthening Access to Culturally Competent Mental Health Care 

For families navigating a child’s mental health needs, finding the right therapist can make all the difference. Care must be affordable and accessible, but it also has to be built on trust.  Since 2023, The Ark’s Child and Family Wellness Program has responded to the growing mental health crisis among children in our community by supporting […]

Writing Through Stigma:
Gail Glotzer Tells Her Story 

A Story Told from the Inside When Gail Glotzer began writing what would become Mania and Other Stories, she was not trying to write a clinical account of mental illness. She wanted to write from lived experience.  Her debut book offers an honest look at life with mental illness through short vignettes shaped by memory, observation, humor, and […]

The Ark’s 2025 Annual Report

Inside The Ark’s Northbrook Pantry 

When people picture The Ark’s food pantry, many think first of the bustling West Rogers Park location. But just north of the city, The Ark’s Northbrook pantry plays an equally essential role, ensuring that Jewish households across the northern and northwest suburbs can access the same care, dignity, and support.  Rhonda Levy has been part […]

Volunteer Spotlight: 
Laurie Borden 

When you spend even a few minutes with Laurie, it becomes immediately clear why she is so beloved at The Ark. There is a calm warmth in the way she listens, a patience that puts people at ease, and a genuine kindness that makes clients and staff feel seen. It’s a presence rooted in decades of service […]

Ellie Rogers and the Everyday Work of Dignity 

Ellie Rogers spends her days where logistics meet humanity. As the Chicago Food Pantry Manager at The Ark, she keeps a fast paced and time sensitive operation running smoothly while staying grounded in something deeply personal: how it feels to ask for help, and how it feels to be welcomed when you do.  Ellie’s path to The Ark began […]

Forgetting Yosef…Again?

The story of Jewish exile doesn’t begin with chains or forced labor. It begins with forgetting.

Finding Light Through Art: Karin Sher’s Healing Work at Gesher 

For Karin Sher, art has never been just a creative pursuit. “Art was my sanctuary,” she says. “It was how I learned to move through the world and make sense of it.” That lifelong connection to creativity has now become the foundation of her work as an art therapy intern at The Ark’s Gesher program, where she helps […]

SNAP at Risk: A Statement from The Ark 

Dear Friends,  For the first time since government safety net programs were enacted 60 years ago, on November 1 the federal government will pause SNAP benefits (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) across the country. This change will directly impact 1.9 million people in Illinois who rely on this vital program to […]

Building Our Modern Ark: Lessons From Parshat Noach 

Each year, as we read Parshat Noach, the story of Noah and the flood is a time of reflection. It describes a world overcome by chaos, violence, and injustice. Amid the turmoil, Noah is chosen to build a Teva, an Ark, a refuge that protects his family and the living creatures around them from the […]