Hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans have already lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as sweeping federal changes take effect, putting new pressure on families, local food banks and communities across the state.

On Tuesday, state and community leaders gathered at the Greater Chicago Food Depository to call attention to the growing hunger crisis, highlight Illinois’ response and recognize leaders working to protect access to food.

Since the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last year, approximately 450,000 fewer Illinoisans are enrolled in SNAP – a 24% decline – including more than 100,000 children. The drop in participants represents a combined loss of an estimated $1.25B in federal SNAP benefits for Illinoisans. This comes as new hunger data released last week reveals that 1 in 3 Chicago households are food insecure.

The fallout in SNAP participation is reaching beyond the households losing benefits:

• Food banks and pantries are seeing increased demand,
• Local communities and grocery stores statewide have lost an estimated $1.9B in economic activity generated by SNAP dollars

While the charitable food system remains a critical lifeline, it cannot replace SNAP at the scale Illinois needs. Historically, for every meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides nine.

“SNAP is the most important tool we have to keep people fed, and right now the federal government is dismantling that tool at a time of elevated food prices and cost of living,” said Kate Maehr, Executive Director & CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

“We continue to be there for our neighbors, but food banks and local pantries can only cover so much. We have to address this crisis by protecting the food assistance benefits that 1.5M Illinoisans depend on.”

The “One Big, Beautiful Bill” also shifts unprecedented costs onto states to keep SNAP in operation, fundamentally changing the funding structure that’s been in place for more than half a century. If Congress does not reverse course, Illinois will be forced to absorb an estimated $550M every year starting in October 2028 just to keep basic food assistance available for families who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Illinois has compassionately responded by creating new tools to help people facing hunger. The Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program provides one-time, $400 of emergency assistance to eligible Illinoisans who lost SNAP due to federally expanded work requirements.

“In Illinois, we strive to ensure everyone has what they need to get ahead in life, working with partners like the Greater Chicago Food Depository to take care of our neighbors and eradicate food insecurity and poverty in our communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “When the federal government stripped SNAP food assistance from hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans, we helped families put food on the table with the nation-leading Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) Program. I accept this year’s Hunger Action Leadership Award on behalf of the State of Illinois and commit to continue making policies that put people first.”

Governor Pritzker was recognized at the event with the 2026 Hunger Action Leadership Award for the State’s launch of the FRESH program.

“Because of federal changes, families are having to choose between putting food on the table and paying their bills,” said Deputy Governor Grace Hou, accepting the Hunger Action Leadership Award on behalf of Governor JB Pritzker. “In Illinois, we will do all we can to mitigate the harm of the federal budget reconciliation bill.  I am honored to accept this recognition on behalf of our Governor, who will always fight for and defend Illinois families.”

The Greater Chicago Food Depository also recognized four additional leaders and organizations with its 2026 Hunger Action Leadership Awards for taking action to protect Illinoisans facing hunger.

State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. and State Representative Dagmara “Dee” Avelar were recognized as Chief Sponsors of the legislation to create the FRESH program, helping Illinois immediately respond to benefit loss for over 175,000 people.

“FRESH was created because we knew Illinoisans would be hit by SNAP program changes they did not make and could not control,” said Senator Sims (D-Chicago). “We have a responsibility to make sure people can eat, even when the rug is being ripped out from underneath them due to federal policy decisions. I am proud of the work that went into creating this program, but the award is really a reminder of the work still ahead.”

“Behind every statistic you read in the news is a family just trying to get by,” said Representative Avelar (D-Romeoville).

“When the federal government’s eligibility changes take SNAP away from a family, their need for food doesn’t disappear. Their hardship becomes greater."

"FRESH gives Illinois an emergency tool in our toolbox to help people through this moment, but we can’t stop there. We know this ongoing assault to our safety net is not going to stop, and we have to do everything in our power to protect people’s access to food.”

The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) was recognized for its creative, faith-based advocacy to protect SNAP. As one of the 100+ statewide members of the Save Our SNAP Coalition, IMAN hosted the Save Our SNAP Block Party this summer, bringing people together to raise awareness and mobilize around the threat to food assistance in Illinois.

“Food is a basic human need, and caring for our neighbors means showing up when it matters most,” said Rami Nashashibi, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network. “The Save Our SNAP Block Party was just one example of what can happen when we bring people together through the power of arts, culture and organizing. We need to keep building that collective power, not just to respond to this crisis, but to make sure people most at risk are helping us shape the solutions.”

The Latino Policy Forum was recognized for its leadership advocating for the VTTC Food Program (Victims of Trafficking, Torture and Other Serious Crimes)  and ongoing work to protect food access for lawfully present immigrants who are losing SNAP benefits under new federal eligibility rules.

“SNAP is a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families, and when some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, immigrant families, are pushed out, we cannot sit back,” said Linda Xóchitl Tortolero, President & CEO of the Latino Policy Forum. “Immigrants are our friends, our family, and our neighbors, and they deserve to be seen, they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and they deserve to eat, too. We are grateful for this recognition, it energizes us to keep fighting, because we are not done. This work must continue. We’ll continue advocating for policies that protect immigrant families, no matter the challenges we’re up against.”

“Today, we are recognizing the leaders who stepped up when our communities needed their support the most,” said Maehr. “But we know this moment is not a victory lap, it’s just the start of the marathon ahead of us. Families continue to lose food assistance and our local food banks and pantries are under immense pressure to provide. We need every level of government, every partner at the table to make sure programs like SNAP continue to be around for our neighbors.”

The Greater Chicago Food Depository and its partners will continue working to connect people to the resources they need and advocate for policies that protect access to food. Hunger is a policy choice, and in Illinois, we must choose better.

2026 Hunger Action Leadership Award Winners

Governor JB Pritzker, State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. and State Representative Dagmara Avelar

Recognized for their leadership in advancing the FRESH program and responding to the immediate impact of Federal SNAP cuts.

Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN)

Recognized for creative, faith-based advocacy to protect SNAP and mobilize communities across Chicago.

Latino Policy Forum

Recognized for leadership advocating for the VTTC Food Program and working to protect food access for lawfully present immigrants.