The mission of Ordinary People International is to offer extensive services that enrich the quality of life for those in need and contribute to the health and vitality of the community by providing a community center with respect and compassion for each person’s value to society.
Mission
Vision
Based on the rich traditions of the Jane Addams Hull House, where people had access to a myriad of services under one roof, OPI is a community-centric nonprofit organization that promotes the profoundly important and necessary benefits of intergenerational exchange as a vehicle to uplift and inspire the human spirit, especially among our inner-city youth.
Who We Are Now
Ordinary People International (OPI) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization located on the Southside of Chicago and formed in 2007 to provide unique, meaningful programs and activities to under-served and under-privileged persons of all ages. OPI caters to children 8-12, high school/college students, young adults and seniors.
We currently operate from a church building (Sanctuary of Prayer Church) located at 851 West 103rd Street in Chicago, Illinois. We have outgrown our space due to the volume of donations we receive.
Our Intergenerational (IG-5) programmatic vision was altered due to the economic downturn. With a record number of community centers closings, families losing homes, and the unemployment rate increasing, we continue to find creative ways to receive a wide range of free donations to distribute to our communities. Donations are critical to the community and help those in need avoid purchasing necessities for sustainibility. We continue to increase our in-kind donor base to include high end products and goods. We are proud to see that our donations brings joy and gratitude to the people and communities we serve.
Becoming an ‘essential’ organization during COVID-19
Since March of 2020 OPI has become an “essential” organization and has received numerous donations from various entities during our country’s disaster crisis. OPI donated items to local non-profit organizations, individuals and families:
Feed the Children donated personal hygiene items (hand sanitizer, body wash, kids bubble bath, cocoa butter vaseline, adult diapers, and L’oreal Pure Sugar Facial Scrub. These items were valued at $77,179.00.
Apostolic Faith Church (Bishop Horace Smith, Pastor) has partnered with OPI to distribute items to the community.
OPI was one of 36 non-profit organizations selected to receive funding ($3,000) from The University of Chicago to provide care packages for 30 seniors.
Ordinary People International Faith-Based Partners
The following faith-based partners receive and distribute donations from Ordinary People International:
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All Nations Temple of Deliverance
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Apostolic Faith Church
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God’s House of All Nations Church
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Faith United Methodist Church in Orland Park
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King of Glory Church
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Orland Park Christian Reformed Church
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Park Community Church
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Sanctuary of Prayer Church
What We are Doing Now
We distribute FREE items to our community members where there is a need to those who live at the poverty level, are unemployed and under-served. Our target groups include individuals, families from school age children, high school, college, young adults, seniors, non-profit agencies, churches, schools, and senior centers on the South Side of Chicago. They receive clothing, household goods, furniture, books, office and back-to-school supplies, toys, Mothers and Father’s Day gifts, computers, printers, laptops, personal hygiene products, candy, beverages, and Chicago Children Museum Family passes.
They receive:
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clothing
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a wide array of household goods
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furniture
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books
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back-to-school supplies
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office supplies
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computers
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printers
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laptops
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cameras
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personal hygiene products
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Chicago Children Museum Family passes
The Order of the Eastern Stars-Harmony Chapter 808 donated 24 Toiletry Bags for men and women to Ordinary People International. The bags contained paper towels, toilet paper, Kleenex, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, wipes, and candy
A big thank you to the Eastern Stars pictured.
Donation Distribution Location
On the 4th Saturday of each month, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m., we distribute free merchandise to our community. These items are generously donated from our sponsors.
Our distribution location is:
Sanctuary of Prayer Christian Church
851 West 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60643
I am blessed that my neighbor told me about this. Everybody is in need right now and this is a big blessing. Thank you OPI!
Darlene C.
I want to say how grateful and blessed we are to come together how OPI has helped families in need.
Precious H.
I thank the Lord for all the blessings that I have received because of Tami Smith non-profit organization giving back to the community.
William M.
Testimonials
Watch testimonials from people whose families and small businesses have been impacted by the work of Ordinary People International.
In order to fulfill our mission, we rely on the generosity of individuals as well as local and multi-national businesses for support. To date, we have received over $7 million dollars in monetary and in-kind donations. Eighty-five percent of this amount was in-kind donations. Without the assistance of community-minded individuals, we would not be able to serve those in our community year after year. Currently, Ordinary People International (OPI) is looking to expand its current operations and is seeking support to fund several institutional development projects which will help us better serve those in our community.
We are seeking a donor to donate a 3,000 to 4,500 square foot building, a commercial freezer and stove, and fund our operational costs.
If you are interested in making a tax deductible gift to Ordinary People International or if you wish to become a sponsor, please call the Executive Director, Tami Smith at 773-530-4558 or you may send an email to: tami@ordinarypeopleintl.org.
How you can help
About Tami Smith, Founder & Executive Director, Ordinary People International
Tami Smith is the Founder and Executive Director of the non-profit organization Ordinary People International (OPI). She founded OPI in February 2007.
Since we started, and to date, we have donated over $6 million dollars in in-kind donations to our community. We do not sell our donations; we distribute them freely throughout the year.
Some of the items distributed to our community were generously donated from our sponsors and include: baby clothing, baby furniture, diapers, strollers, diaper bags, back to school supplies for all age categories (pre-school, kindergarten, grammar/high school and college),clothing for men, women and children, UGG boots, shoes, toiletries (deodorant, shampoo, body wash, detergent, dishwashing liquid, soap), nail polish, computers/laptops, printers, kitchen utensils (large and small hardware, hotel stays, office supplies, Mother’s Day and Father's Day gifts, Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, groceries, Starbucks coffee, Panera Bread pastries and bread, Pottery Barn furniture, towels, sheets, decorations, bedspreads, draperies, lamps, rugs, and many other items not named.
Our Sponsors (past and present) include Toys for Tots, CRU, City Year Chicago, Carhartt, Good360, Cristina Foundation (renamed Digitunity), Feed The Children, Wal-Mart, Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids, Chicago Children’s Museum, Starbucks, UGG, Walgreens, Pret A Manger and The Custom Chef.
The benefactors of the above-mentioned donations are churches, schools, small businesses, infants, toddlers, grammar & high school students, college students, young adults, seniors, the homeless and disabled, non-profit organizations, men and women.
Tami has a wide range of work and volunteer experience. She has served in the following capacities as: Assistant Manager (Mather’s Café), Director of Human Resources & Operations (City Year Chicago), Executive Assistant to President & Vice President (Harold Washington College), Executive Assistant to the Principal (Francis W. Parker School – Lincoln Park), Church Administrator (God’s House of All Nations and Sanctuary of Prayer Churches), Secretary and Vice President of her Block Club, Executive Concierge (Palmer House Hilton) and Assistant to the General Manager and Hotel Manager (Embassy Suites Hotel Downtown Lakefront).
773-530-4558
Sanctuary of Prayer Church
851 West 103rd Street
Chicago, IL 60643
Tami Smith
Executive Director
Ordinary People International