Volunteers in warehouse
Take Action

Join Us In Making a Difference

Everyone can make an impact in the lives of our neighbors and in our communities.

DOUBLE Your Year-End Impact

A $100,000 matching challenge means you can help provide 2X the food for our neighbors facing hunger! Make DOUBLE the impact this holiday season and beyond when you give before December 31!

Take Action. Demand Change.

Lend a Hand to Your Neighbors

Hunger is a year-round problem that touches every community in Cook County, and every neighborhood in Chicago. Hundreds of thousands of people face hunger every year – yet even one is too many.

Get involved to give back to your community today and make a lasting difference.

Give

Donate and make a critical impact in the work we do through a one-time gift, monthly donation, tribute gift, stock gift or more.

Volunteer

Explore our volunteer opportunities for individuals or groups and sign up to help at our facility or in the community.

Advocate

Lift your voice to support our advocacy efforts that address the root causes of hunger.

Start a Virtual Food Drive

Start a fundraiser with friends, family or coworkers and make an immediate difference in our community.

Learn

Discover more about food insecurity and its impact on our community through research on hunger-related issues.

1 in 4 Chicago Children is Currently At Risk of Food Insecurity

No one should experience hunger. You can help.

76.4 M
meals provided across all of our food programs during our 2023 fiscal year
1.9 M
households served by our network of free grocery partners during our 2023 fiscal year
20457
volunteers helped us repack and distribute food to our neighbors during our 2023 fiscal year
$ 19 M
invested in our network of food pantry and program partners since 2020
Peg Veach
Peg Veach
Volunteer

“Food is a basic human need and yet so many go without it or struggle to gain access to it.

Anything I can do to help gives me a sense of purpose.”

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Peg Veach
Volunteer

Giving Back Programs

Find Your Best Path for Giving Back

Individuals, families, colleagues, organizations — the people who give back to the community through the Greater Chicago Food Depository differ. Yet, we all share a belief in taking action and making a difference.

For Individuals & Families

See how other neighbors and families give back to the community.
For Corporations & Organizations

Explore our corporate support and workplace giving back programs.

Helping Hands and Helpful Hearts Needed

Anyone can give back to our community. Every steadfast supporter helps make a difference as we seek not only to meet our neighbors’ immediate needs, but to end hunger for good.

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Get Opportunities to Give Back in Your Inbox

We’ll send you the latest updates on hunger, giving back opportunities and news about our programs so you can make a bigger impact.

Advocate

One of the Best Ways to Give is With Your Voice

Giving back can mean looking forward to a shared future.

Sign a petition. Contact your legislator. Raise your voice to make a larger impact on the root causes of hunger.

With a focus on anti-hunger, public health and anti-poverty policies, our team understands the intersections of food insecurity, nutrition and health and collaborates with our coalition partners to advance solutions that promote equitable food access and take on the root causes of hunger.

Find out how to advocate

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Stories

Take Action by Engaging with Community Stories

Hear from your neighbors to find out how hunger affects our communities and how we can join together to change the world starting right here in Chicago.

View more stories

a boy in glasses holds a mailing and some money while smiling at the camera
Holiday Season, Supporters

The 11-year-old helping to provide thousands of meals for his neighbors
Vastina N stands outside of the HECC after getting her food
Food Pantries & Food Programs

Creating community in Rogers Park
Pantry volunteer with box and food
Hunger in Chicago

Proud to serve our communities

Nourish The Future Of Our Communities

Community organizations can help ensure no one goes hungry by partnering with us to host programs that give children and families the nutrition and resources they need to learn, grow and play.

Summer Meals

During the summer, children and teens who receive free and reduced-price meals at school often lack access to food and go hungry. Community organizations can fill the gap and provide access to nutritious food in convenient neighborhood sites such as libraries, parks and community centers.
Kids Cafe

When you host a Kids Cafe, you’ll be providing nutritious meals and enrichment activities that support physical and academic potential among children and teens. If you provide structured enrichment programming after the school day ends, you can apply to provide after-school meals.
Benefits Assistance

When more organizations are informed about the SNAP application process and its requirements, more individuals and families can get the assistance they need to access benefits. Call us at 773-843-5416 to schedule a hands-on workshop with our staff to help answer client questions and learn more about SNAP.

Take Action and Make a Difference Today

Volunteer for one day. Sign a petition. Make a donation. Making change starts with you.

I want to give back