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 at the University of Minnesota, where she earned a dual degree in sociology and Jewish studies, along with a minor in Hebrew. From the start, she knew she wanted hands on nonprofit work that was client facing. Food security stood out because it was immediate and practical. People need food today, not later. When she began exploring Jewish communal work, she came across The Ark and quickly realized the role was unlike anything else she had seen. 

From the beginning, Ellie was drawn to a mission that balanced thoughtfulness with care. She also noticed how quickly The Ark felt like a family. Shared connection to Jewish life created a sense of belonging that crossed departments and roles, making it a place where people showed up for one another. 

Over nearly three years, Ellie’s position has grown alongside the pantry itself. The physical space has evolved, the number of clients has increased, and the work has become more complex. What began as coordination and administrative support has grown into a role that requires constant real time problem solving. Ellie is often balancing volunteers, inventory, and client needs all at once, making sure each person leaves with what they came for. At the heart of her work is The Ark’s customized pantry model. Instead of prepacked boxes, clients shop for groceries based on their individual household’s needs. They choose what works, adjust quantities, and decide how to use their points. Ellie sees autonomy as central to dignity. Choice helps people feel more in control at a moment when much may feel uncertain. 

One of Ellie’s core goals is to minimize the stigma that can come with visiting a pantry. 

 “Nobody plans to go to a food pantry, so my goal is to make it feel like just another errand, not a defining moment in someone’s life.” Some clients want conversation. Others want privacy. Ellie makes space for both, meeting people where they are without assumptions. 

That approach comes from listening. Ellie has learned that hardship says nothing about a person’s values. “A person’s financial situation is not at all indicative of their compassion or generosity,” she says. She recalls moments when clients called to say they had received extra items and worried someone else might need them more. For Ellie, those moments are reminders that people coming for help are still thinking about their neighbors. 

Running a kosher pantry adds another layer of complexity. Many food rescue options are not possible, and staples like kosher meat, dairy, and eggs come with significantly higher costs. On top of sourcing, there is the daily reality of serving households with a wide range of kosher standards. Ellie and her volunteers thoughtfully accommodate requests when possible, whether someone is looking for a specific hechsher or follows particular guidelines at home. To Ellie, dignity includes being able to ask for what aligns with your values and traditions. 

Beyond the pantry, Ellie brings creativity into her work through a monthly poetry class with The Ark’s Gesher program, a warm community of adults with mental health challenges, who meet daily What started as a lighthearted fun fact she shared at a staff meeting has grown into a space for self-expression and confidence. Over time, participants become more comfortable sharing their writing and with each other, building trust in a familiar and supportive environment. 

Ellie often says that anyone could need The Ark at any point in their life, and that if the roles were reversed, our clients would help us. With steady leadership, warmth, and respect, she helps make The Ark a place where neighbors help neighbors, and where receiving support feels safe, normal, and deeply human. 

If you want to get involved, learn how you can volunteer or check out Pack the Pantry to explore ways to contribute. You can donate dollars, purchase items from our wish list, or drop off pantry staples to help ensure Ark clients have the food and essentials they need most.