Retired Attorney Pamela Baker Helps Lead Food Program Just Blocks from Her Gold Coast Home
Pamela Baker never intended to slow down after retiring. This resident of The Clare, a luxury senior living community in Chicago’s Gold Coast, finds herself busier than ever – cooking meals from scratch and serving bag lunches for hundreds of people each week through Fourth Presbyterian Church’s expansive Meals Ministry program.
A prominent Lawyer at Dentons US LLP, formerly Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, and 50-year resident of Chicago, Baker is a long-time member of Fourth Presbyterian and has always kept a busy schedule in the city. In recent years, Baker has been able to dramatically expand her volunteer work at the church, conveniently located just two blocks away from her apartment. She now volunteers three or four days a week, helping coordinate a program that has doubled in size over the past year and a half, serving up to 200 people each Sunday evening and hundreds more through weekday bag lunch programs.
“I am affirmatively happy for the first time in a decade,” said Baker. “Living at The Clare has given me the freedom and proximity to really dive into this work that feeds my soul.”
Baker regularly supervises kitchen operations for the Sunday night supper program, where volunteers prepare complete meals from scratch every week. The program also operates Tuesday through Thursday, providing bag lunches that require making 500 sandwiches weekly, along with fresh fruit, snacks, and beverages for anyone who comes through the doors hungry.
The proximity to her new home has enabled Baker to take on leadership responsibilities as a member of the Meals Ministry Steering Team.
“The growth we’ve seen is incredible – we went from serving 77 people on a busy night to consistently serving 180-200,” Baker explained. “More people are coming through our doors hungry, and we’re committed to feeding whoever needs a meal.”
Fourth Presbyterian Church, located on Michigan Avenue across from the John Hancock building, has operated its meals ministry for more than 20 years. The program provides not just food, but community – offering a welcoming space where people can charge their phones, access books, and connect with others.
Baker’s story illustrates how senior living communities like The Clare can empower residents to pursue meaningful volunteer work and maintain deep community connections. Her legal career never afforded time for hands-on community service, but retirement has opened new possibilities for giving back.
“I love taking raw ingredients and coordinating volunteers to create something that feeds hundreds of people,” Baker said. “It’s challenging, it’s satisfying, and it makes a real difference in our community.”
About The Clare: The Clare is a luxury senior living community in Chicago’s Gold Coast, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services. The community is known for its prime location, exceptional dining, and commitment to enabling residents to maintain active, engaged lifestyles.