On a chilly December morning, neighbors lined up outside the St. Cyprian food pantry in Dunning, on Chicago’s Northwest Side. The cold hung in the air, but inside, volunteers moved quickly, directing traffic, greeting familiar faces and preparing for the pantry’s annual holiday distribution.
St. Cyprian food pantry, a partner of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, has long been a fixture in the neighborhood, serving food to people for over 25 years. On this December day, the pantry offered whole turkeys and chickens, turkey breast, sweet potatoes, green beans and other holiday essentials, making it possible for neighbors to prepare meals they might otherwise have to forgo.
Cooking for the holidays
For Ivana Kukanoff, the pantry represents both independence and community. She has been visiting St. Cyprian for four years, after learning about it from a neighbor who now drives her to distributions, as Kukanoff is blind and cannot drive herself.
Ivana Kukanoff (left) receives a warm hug from a volunteer while picking up holiday food at St. Cyprian pantry, joined by her friend (right) who brings her to the pantry. (Photos by Abel Uribe for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)
“I just take what I need,” she said. “Meat and fish and vegetables, fruit and dried fruits. I like to cook and make my own juices because it saves money.”
As Christmas approached, Kukanoff was excited to use the food she got at the pantry to plan her holiday menu. “I’m going to make two or three different dishes,” she said. “In Polish culture, we don’t eat meat on Christmas, so I’m going to make a fish, and a potato dish and a dessert, too.”
Kukanoff sees the pantry as essential. “It’s a good thing for people who have low income and can’t buy a lot of stuff,” she said.
“Some people I know, like 80 percent of what they live off is what they get here. So, it’s very important to have this pantry.”
Serving neighbors close to home
In partnership with the Food Depository, St. Cyprian pantry offers fresh produce, meat and pantry staples that help stretch household budgets during difficult times.
During the holidays, the pantry expands its food offerings so families can prepare meaningful meals and celebrate traditions without having to choose between food and other necessities. St. Cyprian pantry is a place where neighbors are welcomed, remembered, and treated with care. During the holiday season, the pantry also distributes toys, housewares and clothing, to help families meet additional needs.
A pantry guest receives holiday food from a St. Cyprian volunteer.
This holiday season, the Food Depository is distributing holiday food items across our network, in addition to regular food distributions. The network will provide enough food for nearly 700,000 holiday meals, ensuring families across Chicago and Cook County have the ingredients they need to celebrate the season.
Meeting basic needs
Noemi Guzman, who lives with her son and two grandsons, has been visiting St. Cyprian panty for the past two years. She is retired, and her son, who works in construction, is the sole earner for the household.
“This pantry helps me so much,” Guzman said. “Because of this place, I eat. I can make food. The food I don’t use, I give to my neighbors.”
Noemi Guzman is grateful to have a food pantry like St. Cyprian in her community.
She appreciates the consistency of what the pantry offers. “Especially the vegetables,” she said. “Chicken, potatoes, onion, eggs. They always have the basics. The most important things.” Guzman receives SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, which help cover some expenses, but the pantry fills critical gaps.
“I’m grateful first to God, then to this pantry, because it’s been a blessing to me,” she said. “I’ve been living nearby for more than 40 years, and I never had to go to a pantry until the pandemic. Now that I need to come more often, it is really important to me.”
Support in a hard time
For Mari Carmen Saldivar, the pantry is both familiar and newly essential. She has lived in nearby Belmont Cragin for 25 years and spent much of her career working in social services and community health. Earlier this year, she was laid off, and as her savings dwindled, she found herself needing support she never imagined she would need.
“I’ve known about this pantry for a long time,” she said. “But a few months ago, I started running low on money, so I came to get food and have returned a handful of times since then. It’s been very helpful.”
Anayeli Garza receives a turkey breast she plans to cook over the holidays.
Saldivar is especially grateful for the treatment she receives at the pantry. “This place is an example of how to run a pantry. They are kind, non-discriminatory, and help anyone who needs it.”
She sees food pantries as a lifeline, especially as economic pressures continue to mount. “Food pantries are an excellent supplemental resource for people who are experiencing hardship,” she said. “Especially right now, when many people are experiencing an economic crisis."
"A lot of people are struggling because SNAP and Medicaid are being cut, so they really need the help. People come to food pantries only because they really need it.”
Despite the uncertainty, Saldivar remains hopeful. “I have faith that I will find work this year,” she said. “I want to work for my community. I pray for all the people that need it, that they will find work too. Until then, I’m grateful to the food pantry for being here for the community.”
St. Cyprian pantry served nearly 200 households at their holiday distribution.
That day, she left with groceries and a plan. “I am going to cook the chicken I got today for Christmas,” she said, smiling.
As volunteers handed out the last bags and neighbors bundled up to head home, the room slowly quieted. But the impact of the day lingered, carried into kitchens and holiday gatherings across the surrounding neighborhoods. At St. Cyprian food pantry, the holiday distribution was about more than a single visit. It was about ensuring neighbors could celebrate the season with loved ones and a special meal.
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