Will County Gazette

Dawn MacGregor has seen great things happen as the director of St. John Lutheran Church Food Pantry.

“Working here has given me opportunities to deepen my faith, work hands-on within the community, create a thriving pantry, develop a wonderful relationship with Northern Illinois Food Bank, share God's abundance with our hungry neighbors, and meet some amazing people,” MacGregor told Will County Gazette. “I felt called to be here. My favorite thing about working for the food pantry is working with the supportive and dedicated staff of St. John Lutheran Church. I have loved challenging our staff and volunteers to be the best pantry we can be.”

MacGregor began volunteering for St. John Lutheran Church Food Pantry in 2009 and was hired as the Director in March 2012. The food pantry provides over 750,000 pounds of food to hungry neighbors each year. 

St. John Lutheran Church Food Pantry Director Dawn MacGregor

“We welcome all hungry residents regardless of zip code, county or school district,” MacGregor said. “We are one of very, very few places where clients can serve, families can serve, and children can serve. I would like to see pantries in neighboring communities open their doors to anyone who needs food. There is enough for everyone.”

MacGregor also would like to see other agencies in Will County, and the other 12 counties of Northern Illinois Food Bank give as generously as possible.

“We have extremely limited space and turn around all of our food every seven days,” she said. “We cannot hold on to anything because we just don't have the space. As a result, clients get everything on our shelves over the course of three distributions.”

MacGregor has learned many things being part of the leadership team for St. John Lutheran Church Food Pantry.

“I have learned that acceptance of all people is crucial to our community; that dignity and grace are just as important as food, air and sunshine,” she said. ”I have learned that food insecurity happens for reasons beyond generational poverty.”

MacGregor visits businesses, schools and civic organizations to educate and inform people about how they can serve their hungry neighbors. She also works with the Jewel Osco on Route 59 and Caton Farm Road to serve more than 150 holiday meals to food-insecure families at Christmas and Thanksgiving. She also works with Troy School District 30-c for the St. John’s Backpacks with Food project.

“I work every day to change my corner of the world,” MacGregor said. “I want to use my talents and gifts to serve hungry people.”

MacGregor was born and raised in Chicago. She attended Moraine Valley Community College on a full scholarship and transferred to Columbia College in Chicago, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in television production with a minor in fiction writing. In her video-production career, she has worked on motorsports show Inside Monster Jam, produced a 50 episode studio cooking series that aired on Discovery Health, and produced four seasons of the faith-based show Sowing Seeds that aired on the Hallmark Channel.

MacGregor currently lives in Shorewood with her husband, three teenagers and two dogs. She loves spending time with her family, camping, traveling and playing games together.