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The Food Depository prioritizes the health and safety of our community, volunteers and staff. We are taking extra precautions around our facility, and we are prepared to respond to increased needs for food related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
If You Need Food
- Food pantries are available: The majority of our partner agencies and programs remain open. Find a food program here. We recommend calling before you go to confirm program hours and requirements.
- Food assistance is an essential service. While some programs have temporarily closed, we’re working closely with our network to support continued operations.
- Meals for children: Schools are providing meals for youth, including those who are remote learning. Contact your school to find out more about what meals are available.
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P-EBT is a benefit that can help buy food for school-age children between the ages of 3-17 and youth aged 18-22 (in high school). P-EBT is available for children and youth who would receive free and reduced-price meals if schools were in session. Learn more about P-EBT.
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- Public benefits: Our Benefits Outreach team can help you apply for SNAP and Medicaid and make referrals for other public benefits. Learn more here.
- Visit our community partners, not our facility: The Food Depository distributes food through a network of community partners. We do not give out food at our facility. If you need food today, call 773-247-3663 or 311 for help finding food.
How You Can Help
- Volunteer in our warehouse: Volunteers are needed to pack food boxes. We are now accepting a limited number of youth volunteers aged 11-15, with adult chaperones. Sign up here for volunteer sessions.
- Make a donation: While all support is appreciated, financial support lets us use your gift to meet the greatest needs. A donation of any amount helps us continue to respond.
- Support from corporations, foundations, individuals and families has made an incredible impact as we respond to this ongoing crisis. View and download the list of our supporters in our FY20 Annual Report.
- Sign up for our email list to stay informed on our latest news and updates.
- Watch and share our response in the news.
For Our Partners
- Emergency operating grants are available. The Food Depository and our network have faced significant unplanned costs as we respond to the increased need.
- To offset some expenses for our partners, grants are available to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters still operating their services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Beginning in April 2020, the Food Depository launched a grant program to support our network of community partners. Funding from the state of Illinois and the generosity of our donors made an additional round of grants possible in July. Read the full news release on this grant funding.
- The Food Depository announced $2.6 million in grants to expand food access in February 2021. The equity grants will support opening four new food pantries in high-priority communities and improvements to 22 existing pantries, strengthening the emergency food system in Black and Latino communities.
- Food safety best practices are effective at helping keep people safe during the pandemic. See our food safety notes and resources here.
- Please read our communication to the network here. This document includes recommendations for serving our community while protecting the health and safety of everyone involved in food distributions. (Updated March 12)
Volunteering and Events
- The safety of our staff, volunteers and community remains our highest priority. We are taking extra precautions, including increased cleaning and sanitizing of our facility.
- Our workforce development staff are developing new training programs now. We are currently offering two job training programs with a mix of online and in-person instruction. Learn more about these programs and check back for future updates. (Updated November 16)
- At this time, volunteer sessions are planned to run as scheduled. We have updated the volunteer repack schedule to allow for two repacks a day. See the schedule here.
- We are setting up volunteer projects to allow social distancing.
- We are asking volunteers and staff to stay home if they experience any symptoms of illness. We are not permitting anyone with a known risk of COVID-19 infection in our facility at this time.