Running to Nourish Hope: Allison Schoenfeld and Her Journey to Make a Difference in the Chicagoland Community

Where Allison’s Running Story Began

Allison Schoenfeld found running during a time of major personal change. After struggling with her mental health during the pandemic, she began a journey of healing and self-discovery when she moved to Chicago in 2021. One summer afternoon in 2022, on a whim, she turned one of her regular mental health walks into a jog and quickly realized the incredible outlet running could be.

As a goal-oriented person, running gave Allison something to work toward. She likes to think of it as a science experiment on herself — figuring out the right balance of food, hydration, gear, and training to keep improving. She finds that process both fun and deeply rewarding.

When training gets tough, Allison finds motivation by remembering the times she physically couldn’t run. In 2024, while preparing for the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, she tore a muscle in her calf and had to end her training block early. On hard days, she reminds herself how badly she wanted to run when she was sidelined, and how much effort it took to recover and come back stronger than before.

This year, Allison ran the Bank of America Chicago Marathon as a charity runner for Nourishing Hope. Her growing love for racing and the running community inspired her to take on the challenge of 26.2 miles. Allison’s dad has always been active, so she invited him to sign up for the Shamrock Shuffle with her, which became her very first race. She had such a great time that she decided to run a half-marathon later that same year. Allison loves the sense of community and connection with spectators, as well as the personal challenge of competing against herself on race day.

Allison prepared for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon by training with Fleet Feet Training x CES. She appreciated having a personalized plan created by trusted coaches rather than relying on one found online. Her favorite part of the program was the support during the 20-miler. Though she was nervous to tackle such a long distance, the encouragement and camaraderie from the pacers and fellow runners helped her push through. She finished the run feeling confident and ready for race day.

All the training and hard work paid off on October 12th, when Allison had an unforgettable experience. She soaked up the energy from the crowds during the first 12 miles and couldn’t help tearing up as she ran through Chicago’s familiar streets, thinking about how much she loved the city. Watching strangers cheer for each other left her feeling proud to be part of Chicago’s community.

Nourishing Hope — On and Off the Course

Alongside her passion for running, Allison is deeply committed to helping others. She majored in nonprofit management at Indiana University and interned at Feeding America’s national office in Chicago during her junior year. After graduating, she became the Programs and Experience Manager at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, leading volunteers, food distribution, and programs for children and seniors during some of the most challenging months of the pandemic. In 2023, she returned to Feeding America, where she now serves as the Senior Donor Stewardship Specialist on the Development Team.

Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States, with a network of 200 food banks, 22 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 agency partners. Nourishing Hope is one of these partners.

Nourishing Hope is more than just a food pantry. As one of the largest and longest-operating hunger relief organizations in Chicago, they provide the equivalent of more than 4.5 million meals each year. Their mission is to nourish hope throughout the community by providing food, mental health support, and social services. For Allison, it’s been amazing to see how the work she does at a national level is directly impacting the network in her own backyard.

She recognizes that having access to the nutritious food, resources, and free time needed to train for a marathon is a significant privilege. Competing on behalf of Nourishing Hope allows her to use that privilege to address the inequities that contribute to food insecurity. Allison hopes her run helps create a future where everyone has access to the food they need to thrive, not just survive.

Allison would like everyone to know that Nourishing Hope is more than just a food pantry; it’s a place where neighbors can come to be nourished mentally and physically, with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Donate to Nourishing Hope all November long in-store at all of our Chicagoland Fleet Feet locations.