Our impact touches communities throughout Cook County. Thanks to staff, volunteers, and supporters of the Food Depository, our neighbors can depend on food and hope. Be part of our daily efforts to end hunger across our community.
Here are just a few examples of how far our reach extends.
Our Impact in Fiscal Year 2019
Addressing a Unique Need: Government Shutdown
When the federal government shut down, an estimated 40,000 federal workers in the Chicago area missed paychecks. Many of them struggled
to feed their families. The Food Depository quickly coordinated with local agencies to deliver food for 1,300 TSA officers, Bureau of Prisons workers and Coast Guard servicemembers. Read their story on our blog.
Meeting the Challenge: USDA Milk Surplus
In September 2018, the Food Depository learned that we would be receiving 90 truckloads of USDA milk over the following 12 months. While this was a tremendous opportunity to provide healthy, fresh milk for our community, it also presented significant logistical challenges. Thanks to the partnership of our network and a recent expansion of our cold storage, more than 345,000 gallons of milk reached families in our community.
Serving Our Neighbors Where They Live & Learn
Working families and students of all ages are at risk of hunger. The Food Depository responds by expanding partnerships with schools, colleges and libraries. By offering food where students learn and participate in other programs, we are helping families who might not have time to visit a traditional food pantry.
- We offered Healthy Student Markets at 35 sites from early childhood through high school.
- We expanded food distributions to 11 college campuses.
- This summer, we offered free meals at 27 Chicago Public Library locations, among other community sites across Cook County.
