Join Us In Making a Difference

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

LET'S END HUNGER

Thanks to a $500,000 matching challenge from the George and Cindy Rusu Family Foundation, your gift will be matched to go TWICE as far. Give by December 31 to help end hunger!

Take Action. Demand Change.

Help Your Neighbors Facing Food Insecurity in Chicago and Cook County

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

Volunteer

Donate time. Explore our food bank 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

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

Learn

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

Additional Ways to Support

Attend an event, buy Food Depository merch or learn how to support us when you shop and dine.

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

No one should experience hunger. You can help.

101.4 M

meals provided across all of our food assistance programs during our 2024 fiscal year

2.4 M

household visits to our network of free grocery partners during our 2024 fiscal year

25,653

volunteers helped us repack and distribute food to our neighbors during our 2024 fiscal year

$ 18.6 M

invested in small businesses that provide nutritious meals to our neighbors since 2020

Wendy Daniels

director of food services at Breakthrough Urban Ministries

“I get to do this work. I get to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.”

As an advocate and food equity ambassador, Wendy Daniels of Breakthrough Urban Ministries helps educate government officials about the need in her community.

You can also help advocate for change.

Become an advocate

Wendy Daniels

director of food services at Breakthrough Urban Ministries

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 who donates time helps make a difference as we seek not only to meet our neighbors’ immediate needs, but to end hunger for good.

Baby spinach leaves with water droplets.

Get Opportunities to Give Back in Your Inbox

We’ll send you the latest updates on hunger, opportunities to donate time and news about our food donation 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

Ray

Food Depository donor

“It makes me sad when people don’t have enough to eat or a place to live.”

When 11-year-old Ray saw that his neighbors were experiencing hunger, he grabbed all the money he had – $180 that he had received as Christmas and birthday gifts from family – to donate money to the Food Depository. Then he encouraged more people to donate and help, too.

Read about Ray, one of our many inspiring donors helping to create a hunger-free community >

Donate to make a difference

Ray

Food Depository donor

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

Food Pantries & Food Programs, Veterans

Celebrating 10 years of nourishment to veterans in need

a woman shops for groceries at a food pantry

Food Pantries & Food Programs, Holiday Season

Providing Thanksgiving essentials in Irving Park – and across Cook County

Hunger in Chicago

Find food this holiday season

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 food insecurity resources and assistance they need to access benefits. Call us at 773-247-3663 to schedule a hands-on workshop with our staff to help answer client questions and learn more about SNAP.

Lunch tray with food and a carton of milk.

Take Action and Make a Difference Today

Donate time. Be a food pantry volunteer for one day. Sign a petition. Donate money. Donate food. Making change starts with you.

I want to give back