Take a Stand Against Hunger

Hunger in the United States is not the result of scarcity. It is the result of policy decisions and acceptance of poverty. To end hunger for good, we need strong public policy. Now is a crucial time to raise your voice and let elected officials know that you support hunger relief programs.

Action Alert: Restore the Safety Net

Safety net programs, such as SNAP and Medicaid, are the most impactful tools to reduce poverty and improve the health of our neighbors. New federal restrictions and requirements for these programs will increase hunger and poverty. Contact your representatives and demand they introduce efforts to roll back these changes and support Illinois families.

Take Action

taking action

What We Advocate For

The Greater Chicago Food Depository firmly believes that we cannot end hunger without addressing the root causes. We are committed to advancing policy solutions that promote food access and that place neighbors experiencing food insecurity at the center of our work.

We are experiencing significant federal-level threats on our nutrition safety net programs like SNAP, WIC and school meals. It is more important now than ever before that we collectively advocate to defend and strengthen these lifeline programs, while also advancing impactful policies in Illinois to ensure every neighbor has the food they need to thrive.

When we raise our voices together, we can make lasting change. Join us and become an advocate for your community today.
Learn more about our 2026 legislative priorities

Join Us

Become a Champion for Your Community

You are a critical part of our work to end hunger and its root causes.

We need you to help advocate for policies that protect our community from hunger! We invite our neighbors and community leaders to work with the Food Depository on important policy changes. There are many ways to get involved and we offer training and resources to support individuals and organizations.

Send us an email and tell us a little bit about yourself or your group. We'll connect you with ways to lift your voice to end hunger. CONTACT US TO GET STARTED

Lift Your Voice to Help Your Chicago Neighbors

There are many ways to advocate on your own. Here are some ways you can get started.

Contact Elected Officials

Our Advocacy Action Center makes it easy to contact your representatives in support of hunger relief policies. Learn about the latest issues and send a pre-written email or make a scripted call in just a few clicks. Every action counts!

Start a Conversation

Use your platform to raise awareness about food insecurity and ways to address it. If you are a content creator, community leader, or just want to empower your family and friends, our Advocacy Toolkits offer the latest talking points and materials to make a statement.

Tell Your Story

Help elected officials and media outlets understand the personal cost of hunger. If you have experienced food insecurity or have seen firsthand how hunger relief programs help your community, we invite you to work with us to share your story.

Areas of Focus

We advocate at the federal, state and local level for food security and solutions to the root causes of hunger. Here is what we are talking about now.

Strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) is the primary source of nutrition assistance for almost 2 million households in Illinois. SNAP lifts millions of households above the poverty line and improves people’s food security.

Protect the Federal Social Safety Net

Hunger does not exist in a vacuum, and the rising cost of healthcare and cuts to Medicaid, housing, and other life-line services will exacerbate already historic levels of hunger.

Provide Healthy Meals for Children

Child nutrition programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Summer EBT, and school meals help ensure our youngest neighbors have the food they need to grow and thrive.

Address the Root Causes of Hunger

We cannot end hunger without addressing the root causes. We support partners that advocate for a wide range of policies, including economic security, affordable housing, community food systems, and more.

Bolster the Emergency Food System

Programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) at the Federal Level and Farm to Food Bank in Illinois help ensure food banks and our pantry partners have what we need to distribute nutritious food to our communities.

Save Our SNAP!

SNAP is our nation’s largest and most effective hunger-relief program. Over 41 million Americans, including 2 million in Illinois, rely on the program to help pay for food and groceries when times are tough.

Congress recently passed a budget bill that includes historic and devastating cuts to SNAP. We are expecting increased levels of food insecurity in our community. Learn more about how we are responding to this crisis.

Learn More

STORIES

Read Stories from Our Advocates

Advocacy & Public Policy, Events, Volunteers

Divine Nine volunteers unite to address hunger during Black History Month

Advocacy & Public Policy, SNAP and Benefits

Saving SNAP for neighbors across Illinois

Advocacy & Public Policy, Hunger in Chicago, SNAP and Benefits

SNAP remains vital for neighbors experiencing food insecurity

Ways to Help

More Ways To Get Involved

Help comes in many forms. Choose the way best-suited to you — everything helps.

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.

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.

Additional Ways to Support

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

Join us to End Hunger and its Root Causes

We need you to help advocate for policies that protect our community from hunger! We invite our neighbors and community leaders to work with the Food Depository on important policy changes. We offer training and resources. Contact us to learn more about how to lift your voice to end hunger.

Contact Us