What happens when a community chooses to share?
At ShareFest Will County, the answer can be found in grocery carts filled with food, shelves stocked by volunteers and household essentials placed into waiting hands—and in thousands of people who walk through the doors knowing their neighbors care.
Founded in 2007 by Gary Cheney after he saw families quietly struggling with food insecurity and financial hardship, ShareFest began as a small volunteer effort. Today, its 17,000-square-foot Charitable Resource Center in New Lenox serves more than 5,000 families each month.
The need is significant. Since January 1, ShareFest has welcomed 2,300 families seeking assistance for the first time, representing nearly 4,900 individuals. In 2026 alone, the organization has recorded more than 36,000 family visits and served more than 90,000 people.
Yet Cheney says the heart of ShareFest isn’t simply what people receive—it’s how they feel when they receive it.
“We want every family to feel seen, valued, and supported,” he says. “Our goal is to create an environment where our ShareFest family experiences dignity—not judgment.”
Families can shop for a full grocery cart of food and select essential household items from the Non-Food Warehouse. Volunteers unload donations, stock shelves, prepare orders and assist families, while partner organizations provide additional resources and support.
And the sharing goes both ways. Clients and community members often give back with whatever they can. It costs ShareFest approximately $10 to fill a grocery cart with food, so even a small act of generosity can help another family.
For Gary, that spirit of participation is what makes ShareFest special: people giving their time, talents, and resources because they want to be part of something bigger than themselves.