When the final bell rings at Brentano Elementary, 12-year-old Noah Powers always has something to look forward to. For the past two years, Powers has been attending the after-school program at the Salvation Army Freedom Center in West Humboldt Park. It’s a place where he can play football or basketball with friends, try his hand at cooking classes and, just as importantly, enjoy a meal.

“I like all the meals we get here,” Powers said with a grin, finishing off his snack of cheese and crackers. “My favorite is the pizza. And the food gives me energy so I can do things like play football.”

Noah Powers enjoys a snack at the Salvation Army Freedom Center after school. (Photos by Nancy Stone for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

The Freedom Center’s after-school program serves nearly 100 children between the ages of 5 and 18. For kids like Powers, the program is more than a safe place to spend the afternoon, it’s also a reliable source of nutritious food. Through a partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, every child receives a healthy snack and dinner during the program. For families facing tight budgets and packed schedules, that support makes a difference.

A community anchor on the West side

“Most of the kids in our program come from nearby schools, and their parents are working and low-income,” said program coordinator Jaegen Ellison. “They tell us all the time how helpful it is to know their kids are cared for and fed here. It takes a huge weight off their shoulders.”

On any given afternoon, children crowd into the gym to play basketball, gather around tables for arts and crafts, or settle into homework help sessions. Before long, everyone pauses for snack time. Later, as parents finish their workdays, the kids sit down to a full meal.

Program coordinator Jaegen Ellison checks in with students during after-school activities at the Freedom Center, where children receive support, enrichment and meals.

“For us, having the Food Depository as a partner is huge,” Ellison said. “It would be really difficult for our staff to cook meals for up to 100 kids every day. With the meals provided, we can focus on helping them learn, play and grow.”

In addition to the after-school program, the Freedom Center offers a wide range of services for the community, including a homeless shelter, an adult rehabilitation program, workforce development and emergency assistance. Families can also access counseling and case management, while children benefit from structured sports, tutoring and creative programs.

Feeding kids after school

The Freedom Center hosts one of dozens of after-school programs across Cook County that partner with the Food Depository to provide meals for children. Through funding from the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), the Food Depository supplies nutritious meals and snacks to schools, community centers, libraries and churches, ensuring kids have something to eat in the critical hours between school and bedtime.

The Salvation Army Freedom Center in West Humboldt Park is a community hub offering after-school programs, meals and family support services.

Food is foundational for learning and growth. Research shows that children who have consistent access to nutritious meals are more likely to do better in school, have higher energy levels and develop healthy habits for life.

Every weekday during the school year, participating programs receive ready-to-serve snacks and dinners from the Food Depository. Menus often include fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, milk and kid favorites like pasta, pizza and burgers. In the last year alone, the Food Depository and our partners served more than 300,000 after-school meals across Cook County.

Nourishment for the youngest learners

Dior Morrison, 5, a kindergartener at Polaris Elementary whose favorite subject is math, has been attending the program for a month.

Kindergartener Dior Morrison enjoys a healthy snack at the Freedom Center, where children have access to fresh fruits, dairy and other nutritious foods.

“My favorite food is strawberries and bananas,” she said. “And I really like yogurt and crackers and cheese,” she added, holding up her snack plate with a smile.

The Food Depository ensures that fresh produce is a regular part of meals. For many children, it’s a chance to try fruits and vegetables they may not always have at home. Fresh produce provides essential nutrients that support healthy growth and development – and because it can be expensive at the grocery store, these meals help make it more accessible to families.

Serenity Castro sips on a refreshing juice as part of a balanced after-school meal, helping her stay energized for activities and learning.

For 8-year-old Serenity Castro, who loves taking art classes at the Freedom Center, the meals have sparked new tastes and curiosity. “I didn’t used to like fruit that much,” she said. “But we eat it so much here that now I like it.” Stories like hers show how small exposures to nutritious foods can build healthy habits that last.

Fuel for brighter futures

At the Freedom Center, staff and parents see the impact every day. Parents know that when they pick up their children, they’ve been well taken care of and served nutritious food. For many working families, that peace of mind is invaluable.

Together, the Food Depository and the Freedom Center are helping ensure that kids in West Humboldt Park have what they need to learn, grow and thrive.

Every Monday, Crestwood resident Mark Clark, 66, and his German Shepherd, Thor, anticipate a knock on their door. They know it will be a Food Depository driver delivering a box of meals, one warm and four frozen, to help provide consistent nutrition for Clark throughout the week.

Clark has done his best to make meals for himself since his wife died years ago, but cooking isn’t easy after his stroke – nor is affording food on his fixed income.

“The meals save me a lot. Prices at the grocery store are outrageously high,” said Clark.

He noted that the tacos and fish are among his favorites in the rotation of dinners he receives. He also appreciates his delivery driver, who brings the box of meals into his home. “He’s a nice guy. And the meals are very helpful.”

Supporting overall health

In 2024, the Food Depository started delivering prepared meals to more than 400 neighbors throughout Cook County in partnership with organizations serving older adults and people living with disabilities. We also partner with healthcare providers caring for neighbors with chronic health conditions who have also screened positive for food insecurity.

We were inspired to begin this work by neighbors like Clark, for whom prepared meals are often more helpful than grocery items in addressing food insecurity and supporting their overall health. Older adults and neighbors living with disabilities often experience transportation and/or mobility challenges in accessing groceries and preparing food for themselves.

Food Depository driver Joe Hanley delivers prepared meals to Markham resident Kim Mills for her mom, Josie.

The Food Depository is uniquely equipped to help meet these neighbors’ needs. Every day in our prepared meals center, we create thousands of nutritious, scratch-made meals comprised of lean proteins, whole grains and vegetables, foods that support the wellbeing of neighbors with health issues such as high blood pressure or diabetes. We also have a fleet of delivery vehicles and a team of drivers and volunteers who ensure the meals reach our neighbors safely.

Most importantly, delivering meals to neighbors supports our new strategic initiative to ensure emergency food access to all in need. We look forward to building on what we learn from the program so we can expand our work, reaching more older adults and neighbors with disabilities to ensure access to needed nutrition.

Peace of mind for caregivers

Jim Connelly receives peace of mind from the meals we deliver to his aunt, Patricia, 87, who was independent until a stroke in 2022 left her unstable on her feet and often relying on a wheelchair to get around.

Jim Connelly, right, opens the door for the volunteer driver delivering meals to his aunt Patricia.

When dehydration and under-nutrition led to Patricia’s hospitalization, Connelly signed her up to receive our meals. She’s remained sufficiently nourished ever since, he said, adding that Patricia also enjoys interacting with her delivery driver.

“This has allowed her, with social support and assistance, to remain in her home and be semi-independent, which is good for both her physical and mental health,” Connelly said. “Every day she goes to the fridge (to get a meal) and feels touched that an organization cares. She’s grateful.”

Patricia Connelly Mitchell appreciates that the delivered meals help her stay in her home.

Ramona Morgan wasn’t sure how her 88-year-old mother, with whom she shares a name and a home, would respond to the delivered meals. “She can be a bit of a picky eater. But she’s been cleaning her plate with all of them,” Morgan said. She also appreciates that the meals fit within the medical needs of her mom, who has high blood pressure, high cholesterol and dementia.

“The team that makes the meals delivered to my mom are a Godsend. The impact that (the meal delivery program) is now making on the community and my mom is important.”

Driven to serve

Thomas LeClair, one of our volunteer meal delivery drivers, is a big fan of the program as well. Every week he drives a regular route in the South Suburbs, dropping off meals to older adults and building lasting bonds with the neighbors he visits.

“Sometimes we’re the only people they see all day,” said LeClair, who began volunteering as a driver after his 2019 retirement from 38 years in the nonprofit field.

“It’s not just about food, it’s about making sure people feel cared for.”

The consistency of the program means drivers and recipients get to know one another. For many older adults facing isolation, the conversation at the door is as meaningful as the meal itself.

Thomas LeClair in the Food Depository warehouse preparing to deliver meals.

Since starting, LeClair has spent nearly 900 hours delivering food. “It keeps me tied to the city I love: Chicago,” he said. “I think it’s the best way to spend retirement. I get to meet beautiful people and have a lot of fun.”

Cornelius and Teresa Hendricks, both meal recipients in their 80s, appreciate the effort. After decades of working at federal government office and a VA hospital respectively, they now suffer “various ailments” that make getting groceries and making meals a challenge.

“The meals come in handy. We both enjoy them,” Cornelius said. “I’m so grateful.”

The Food Depository needs more volunteers to deliver meals, bringing nourishment and companionship straight to a neighbor’s doorstep. Visit chicagosfoodbank.org/volunteer.

At the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the mission to end hunger takes many forms. Trucks deliver food to hundreds of partner sites across Cook County. Volunteers pack thousands of pounds of produce every week. And in a dedicated space inside the building, rows of herbs grow in vertical hydroponic units under steady light.

These units comprise the Food Depository’s hydroponics pilot program – an innovative approach that uses sustainable methods to supply fresh ingredients for meals served to neighbors across Chicago.

Innovative growing methods

The program was developed as part of the Food Depository’s effort to explore creative solutions to alleviating hunger. Hydroponics offers several advantages over traditional farming. By controlling variables like light, nutrient levels and water flow, we can optimize growth and ensure strong yields year-round.

Two hydroponic units at the Food Depository grow fresh herbs year-round, providing basil and parsley for scratch-made meals.

Each plant starts as a seedling in our nursery before being transplanted into growing units. These units provide a consistent flow of nutrient-rich water and 18 hours of light per day. Herbs such as basil and parsley are often ready to be harvested in about 45 days from seeding, and many varieties can be harvested multiple times. Each growing unit can sustain 1,056 crops at once, maximizing production in a small space. The Food Depository grows basil, sage, chives, dill and parsley between three units.

Mick O’Donnell, the Food Depository’s senior hydroponics and donated food specialist, says the program combines innovation with community impact.

“Hydroponics lets us grow year-round in an urban environment,” he said. “The herbs we produce help to elevate the taste and nutrition of our prepared meals.”

Prepared meals cooked with herbs from the hydroponics units in production, getting ready to be delivered to neighbors. (Photo by Lou Foglia for Food Depository.)

Once harvested, the herbs are sent down the hall to the Food Depository’s kitchen, where our team prepares thousands of nutritious, scratch-made meals each week. These meals support neighbors across Chicago and Cook County experiencing food insecurity, including neighbors who experience challenges in cooking for themselves, and low-income older adults served through healthcare partnerships.

By using herbs grown in-house, the kitchen team can boost both flavor and nutrition in dishes like the Cajun chicken with brown rice and seasonal vegetables as well as the chili lime fish with yellow rice and vegetables, which are distributed through partner pantries, community organizations and direct delivery programs.

A pantry guests receives a prepared meal at St. Moses the Black pantry. (Photo by Lou Foglia for the Food Depository.)

The impact of volunteers

Volunteers are the heart of the hydroponics program, planting, tending and harvesting the crops that make their way into meals for our neighbors.

David Flores, a retired firefighter and veteran, began volunteering with the Food Depository shortly after retiring two years ago. In addition to helping at repacks – where volunteers sort and package bulk food for distribution – and serving as a volunteer ambassador, he now spends much of his time in the hydroponics space. Twice a week, Flores tends to basil and parsley crops.

Volunteer David Flores harvests fresh parsley from the Food Depository’s hydroponic unit.

“I never thought I’d be an urban farmer,” Flores said. “But I love it. I’ve learned so much, and I know the produce is going out to the community.”

On Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Flores waters seedlings, transplants herbs and assists with harvests. “I feel like I’m still learning every day,” he said. “Hydroponics wasn’t something I ever thought I’d be doing, but now I see how the herbs go straight into meals that reach our neighbors, and I know I played a part in that.”

Susan Barton, a lifelong gardener and sustainability advocate, also volunteers with the program. After retiring in 2020 from the Shedd Aquarium, where she spent 25 years in horticulture and facilities, she sought new ways to put her skills to use.

Volunteer Susan Barton packs freshly harvested basil, which will help flavor nutritious meals for neighbors.

“I’ve always loved to garden, and I’ve always believed that everyone deserves access to good food,” Barton said. “It feels good to know I’m helping grow it.”

For Barton, sustainability also extends beyond the environment. Standing among the rows of herbs in the Food Depository’s hydroponics area, she reflected on the program’s impact. “This program shows that you don’t need acres of land to grow something meaningful,” she said. “We can do it right here, and it can feed our neighbors.”

Looking ahead

As the pilot grows, the Food Depository sees potential for expansion. “We’re learning what works best in this system, and we’re exploring how it could grow in scale,” said O’Donnell. “The more we can integrate fresh, locally grown produce into our meals, the stronger and healthier the community becomes.”

Senior hydroponics and donated food specialist Mick O’Donnell harvests herbs in the hydroponics unit.

The Food Depository’s hydroponics program demonstrates how innovation and volunteer dedication come together to support the mission to end hunger, ensuring nutritious, flavorful meals reach neighbors across Chicago and Cook County.

On Wednesday evenings in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, a crowd starts to gather in one of the buildings on the LaSalle Street Church campus. They’re drawn by the enticing aromas and warm community of the Breaking Bread soup kitchen, a Food Depository partner.

Guest Jim Robertson joins a table of men he’s come to know as friends. He was the vice president of a bank until health issues necessitated a liver transplant, upending his financial status when he was unable to work for months. “Northwestern and God saved me,” he says. Robertson now survives on Social Security and disability benefits and must be careful about what he eats.

Breaking Bread guests enjoying each other's company before dinner begins. Photos by Lily Qi for the Food Depository.

“My copays for my medicines make me poor,” he says, adding that he barely affords his modest apartment.

“If not for the Food Depository, I don’t know what I’d do. I’m very grateful for this place.”

A personal touch

As the tables start to fill up, Pastor Julie Welborn, coordinator of the meal program, greets the Breaking Bread guests with her usual question: “What’s the good news?”

Eddie speaks excitedly about his new apartment. Delaney, who needs assistance to get around, shares that she walked further this week than she has in a while. Paul mentions gratitude for someone who’s now helping him search for a job.

Cook Keith Richardson prepares to welcome guests to the taco bar.

After a few announcements, the tables are released one by one to visit the taco bar created by cook Keith Richardson, who helped found Breaking Bread 20 years ago. Richardson, 69, learned to cook from his mom and was moved to help start the program by the unmet needs in the community – needs he’s known firsthand.

Richardson was unhoused and unemployed before he started working for the church. He now makes dinner for about 80 of his neighbors every Wednesday night with ingredients he receives from the Food Depository.

“People can taste that I cook with love,” he says.

Service coordinator Francis Little encourages others to participate in the night’s activity by kicking off karaoke with a Lionel Richie song.

While Richardson handles the meal, Francis Little oversees the room and the volunteers, making sure the guests have a smooth experience. Breaking Bread used to bring meals to his apartment building, now he ensures that others receive a hot meal as well as a caring community.

“We want people to be able to leave their worries at the door,” Little says. “And leave with a smile on their face.”

Jordan Alexander, a guest in his 50s, appreciates the personal touch. “I’m a sucker for a homemade meal,” he says. “The people here are always loving and friendly. They do wonderful work.”

Guest Jordan Alexander digs into dinner.

Dual needs

The guests at Breaking Bread are as diverse as the neighborhood, which includes subsidized senior housing, multiple coffee shops and high-end condos. On Wednesday evenings, the tables are filled with residents of the nearby senior buildings, guests who are unhoused and a new influx of young individuals and families struggling to get by.

Welborn says most of the guests share two things in common. “We see people who are hungry and lack community,” she says.

Meriam Celenin and Edita Merza like to sit together at Breaking Bread.

She and the rest of the Breaking Bread staff work hard to meet both of these important needs. They celebrate birthdays each month with cupcakes. They engage the group with activities. (Tonight, it’s karaoke!) They serve the guests at their tables and decorate each with seasonal décor.

Before they leave, guests are invited to visit several tables with protein shakes, canned goods and other items to help them through the coming week, all provided by the Food Depository.

After dinner, guests select food to take home with them.

Welborn recently invited a Food Depository staff member to join them one week to help guests sign up for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. She’s able to accomplish this comprehensive service with “an amazing volunteer base,” Welborn says.

Kendall Fleder, 29, became a volunteer after investigating the line she saw coming out of the door every Wednesday night. After walking in herself, she met Welborn, saw the meal program in action and has been back nearly every Wednesday since to serve the guests dinner and help clean up after.

Pastor Julie Welborn loves her volunteers, including Kendall Fleder.

Three years later, “Breaking Bread feels like family,” she says.

“This place brightens my day. I hope it does the same for the guests.”

A communal meal

Marla Dickholtz has been volunteering at Breaking Bread for the past year. Tonight, she’s greeting people at the door, welcoming guests to fill out a nametag and take a seat. She lives next door in a senior housing building, where her Social Security benefits barely cover her rent.

“We’re all one meal away from a crisis,” Dickholtz says, looking over the crowd. “I enjoy the social aspect here, being around people and making sure they’re fed.” She says she’ll enjoy a meal tonight as well because she doesn’t cook much anymore. “We’re all happy this place is here.”

Guests receive a respectful and dignified experience.

As karaoke kicks off in the background, a guest named Natalie says she was drawn to Breaking Bread in large part by the community. The food is also important as she does her best to make ends meet on her disability benefits. “It’s a nice place to come gather with people and enjoy a meal together,” she says. “I’ve met friends here.”

Words like these keep Welborn and her team encouraged that they’re meeting their goals. “We want our guests to be well taken care of,” she says, “to leave full and happy.”

Every September, communities across the country unite for Hunger Action Month – a nationwide movement to raise awareness and inspire action to end hunger. This September, the Greater Chicago Food Depository is hosting events, campaigns and opportunities for you to get involved and help ensure every neighbor has access to food.

Right now, one in five households in our community is experiencing food insecurity. That means thousands of families are forced to make difficult choices every day between paying for groceries, rent or medical bills. Rising costs of living continue to squeeze already-tight budgets, making it harder for many to put nutritious meals on the table.

At Irving Park Community Food Pantry, a guest connects with a volunteer while receiving groceries.

Food insecurity isn’t limited to one neighborhood or one group of people – it exists in every community across Cook County. Hunger Action Month is a reminder of what’s possible when we come together as a community: with enough awareness, compassion and action, we can ensure that food is available for every neighbor.

Ways you can make an impact

Volunteer. Volunteers are essential to making sure food reaches our community. Whether it’s packing and sorting groceries at the Food Depository or helping distribute fresh produce at local sites, your time helps ensure children, families and older adults have meals they can count on.

A volunteer helps repackage bulk groceries at the Food Depository, preparing them to be distributed to pantries and community sites across Cook County.

Give. Right now, your gift goes twice as far thanks to a $162,000 matching on behalf of several valued corporate sponsors. Every dollar helps stock shelves at food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters across Cook County while also supporting long-term solutions to hunger.

Host a virtual food drive. Rally your family, friends and coworkers to support neighbors facing hunger. A virtual food drive makes an immediate impact by putting food where it’s needed most.

Advocate. Ending hunger requires systemic change. Programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school meals and other nutrition supports are a lifeline for millions of people. When you sign up at our Advocacy Action Center, we provide easy ways to contact your elected officials, share your story and urge leaders to protect and strengthen these vital programs so every neighbor has access to the food they need.

Advocates traveled to Washington, D.C., to urge lawmakers to protect and strengthen programs like SNAP and school meals, ensuring every neighbor has access to nutritious food.

Show your support. On Hunger Action Day, September 9, and all month long, wear orange, the color of Hunger Action Month, to symbolize solidarity and raise awareness about hunger. Share your photos on social media with the hashtag #HungerActionMonth to spread the word.

Dine out for good. Through the Food Depository’s annual 86 HUNGER campaign, more than 40 Chicago restaurants are donating a portion of sales from a featured menu item. When you order, you’re helping to take hunger off the menu in our community.

Spotlight: Chef Dominique Leach

One of the chefs participating in 86 HUNGER this year is Dominique Leach, owner of Lexington Betty Smokehouse in the Pullman neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. Born and raised in Chicago, Leach is a nationally recognized pitmaster and the Season 4 champion of Food Network’s BBQ Brawl.

Chef Dominique Leach, owner of Lexington Betty Smokehouse, is participating in the Food Depository’s 86 HUNGER campaign to help take hunger off the menu in Chicago.

“As a chef and small business owner, I believe food brings people together and lifts up our community,” Leach said.

“Food has the power to nourish and connect us, and that’s why Lexington Betty is proud to be part of the 86 HUNGER campaign as its first South Side partner. By serving a dish we love, we can also serve our neighbors who need it most.”

Funds raised through 86 HUNGER help the Food Depository provide fresh produce, shelf-stable groceries and prepared meals to neighbors across Chicago and Cook County.

A year-round commitment

In addition to Hunger Action Month, the Food Depository collaborates with businesses throughout the year to raise funds that promote food access in Chicago and Cook County. Partners such as Jeni’s Ice Creams and Connect Roasters donate a portion of their proceeds to the Food Depository year-round, while businesses like the Life Time Turkey Trot and Affy Tapple have provided longstanding support at annual events.

These collaborations demonstrate that ending hunger isn’t limited to one month on the calendar – it’s a collective, ongoing commitment. Together, with the help of local businesses and community members, we can create lasting change and ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food.

Visit chicagosfoodbank.org/hunger-action-month to learn more and take action to end hunger today.

On a sunny July morning, the Southwest Senior Center in Gage Park was buzzing with more than just its usual classes and conversations. The recreation room was transformed into a pop-up farmers market, with tables stacked with baskets of tomatoes, peaches, peppers and greens fresh from a local farm. Seniors chatted and browsed as they spent their Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program coupons.

Ricardo and Ana Carpintero, both 67, were among them. The couple first came to the center nearly a decade ago looking for a place to exercise after Ricardo retired. Over the years, it has become a second home to them – a place for fitness, friends and now fresh produce.

Ricardo and Ana Carpintero are grateful for the coupons the received at the Southwest Senior Center. (Photos by Jim Vondruska for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

“This program has been very helpful for us,” Ricardo said. “Last year, we got fresh fruits and vegetables, and they were delicious. It’s one of many great things about this center. They have activities, gym, fitness, and it is a great place for community.”

Bringing fresh produce to older adults

This is the fourth year the Southwest Senior Center has distributed the coupons, a federally funded program provided through the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The program gives eligible seniors $25 in coupons to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets.

For many older adults on fixed incomes, the coupons are a boost that help them enjoy nutritious produce while also supporting local farmers. The Food Depository began distributing Senior Farmers Market coupons throughout Chicago in the summer of 2022. Since then, the program’s reach has grown significantly. This year, more than 11,000 booklets will be distributed through events at different senior center sites across Chicago.

Christina shows off a ripe peach she picked up at the pop-up market.

Last summer, to make it easier for seniors to use their coupons, the Food Depository began to invite farmers to come directly to the distribution events, turning them into small pop-up markets. This meant that seniors could shop for fresh produce on the spot while local farmers gained direct access to new customers.

A community of support

Susana and Filiberto Torres, both 73, first visited the center about a year and a half ago after the loss of a close friend who had been a regular there. They quickly discovered a place full of opportunities, not just for social connection but also for practical support.

“Last year we got the coupons for the first time,” Susana recalled. “It was a great help to us. We are on a fixed income, so any bit of extra is helpful. We bought tomatoes, peaches and broccoli.”

Susana and Filiberto Torres are about to browse the fresh produce at the pop-up market.

The Torreses also receive senior food boxes through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), a USDA program that provides monthly food boxes to low-income seniors aged 60 and older, which the Food Depository helps to distribute. “They have a lot of great stuff,” Susana said. “We are grateful for it.”

Beyond food assistance, the center has become a source of joy and community. “We are really happy to have this center. It is a big help for us, and we have a lot of fun here,” Filiberto said. Their weekly schedule includes yoga, Zumba, coloring classes and visits from social service providers, including benefits outreach partners from the Food Depository, who help seniors navigate benefits and resources.

Staying active and engaged

For Diana Banks-Taylor, 67, the center has been a fixture in her life for 17 years. She is committed to maintaining an active lifestyle, so she is grateful that the center helps her do that.

Diana Banks-Taylor is excited about the greens she is bringing home from the pop-up market.

“I love to be active, I like to exercise and eat healthy, so it is great that they have so many activities for us,” she said.

“It is nice to have the coupons because you can shop at these farmers markets that you might not always be able to go to,” Banks-Taylor said. “It is great quality food. It is very fresh. I got greens, peppers and cherries today.”

Giving back through volunteering

Ethel Marks, 71, joined the center earlier this year, inspired by a co-worker who serves as the center’s director. Not long after signing up, she began volunteering to help with programs like the coupon distribution.

Ethel Marks stays active by volunteering and participating in programs at the Southwest Senior Center.

“It is helpful to the community because a lot of people do not have resources,” Marks said. “I think this (the coupon distribution and pop-up market) is an awesome resource and an awesome activity for the seniors. Many seniors do not have the income to shop at farmers’ markets on their own, so it is great.”

More than a meal

Thanks to the Senior Farmers Market Coupon Program, thousands of older adults across Chicago and Cook County can bring home fresh, healthy produce. By hosting coupon distributions at multiple locations and inviting farmers to sell on-site, the Food Depository helps make nutritious, locally grown food more accessible while strengthening the connection between the community and area farmers.

For seniors like Ricardo, Susana, Filiberto, Diana, Ethel and many others, the program means more meals filled with the flavors they love and the comfort of knowing good food is within reach.

On a hot Monday morning in July, a Greater Chicago Food Depository driver hit the road with a truck full of food. Rather than heading to a food pantry, he was making our first drop-off at Green Era in Auburn Gresham – marking the beginning of a partnership that transforms food waste into sustainable energy and economic opportunity.

The Food Depository recently signed a contract with environmental and biofuels organization Green Era to handle most of our food waste (canned goods and food in glass containers are excluded). This includes produce that doesn't meet our strict quality standards, expired items and the small amount of kitchen waste we produce.

A sustainable solution takes root

While we've made tremendous progress reducing waste, some is inevitable when you're meticulous about food quality and over a third of our inventory is fresh, perishable produce. This year, we anticipate sending approximately 600,000 pounds of food waste to Green Era – approximately 0.375%, or less than one half of one percent, of the food we distribute to the community.

Previously, managing this waste was complicated and time-consuming, requiring three different vendors – including two different compost companies – and hours of staff time removing packaging by hand each week.

Inedible and expired food is loaded on trucks and transported to Green Era weekly.

Green Era changes everything. They accept our food waste packaging and all. Their advanced equipment automatically separates packaging from food, freeing our Facilities team to focus on more strategic projects.

Because Green Era is a small operation without pickup resources, unusable food is collected and stored throughout the week, then delivered by one of our drivers weekly – or more frequently during busy seasons.

Powerful transformations

At Green Era's nine-acre campus, a state-of-the-art anaerobic digester transforms food waste into renewable natural gas and nutrient-rich fertilizer. Some biogas flows directly into the local People's Gas grid, potentially powering stoves in neighborhood homes. Organic compost nourishes several community gardens and urban farms, growing fresh, nutritious food in the local community.

Green Era's evolution shows what committed local citizens can accomplish. What was once a contaminated city impound lot filled with illegally dumped trash is now a sustainable energy hub supporting approximately 30 permanent jobs. Green Era is an outgrowth of Urban Grower's Collective, a network of eight urban farms on 11 acres, predominantly on Chicago's South Side, focused on community healing through urban agriculture.

Green Era’s nine-acre campus in Auburn Gresham has state-of-the-art equipment for converting food waste into compost and natural gas.

The Food Depository has a longstanding relationship with Erika Allen, co-chair of Chicago’s Food Equity Council alongside Kate Maehr and co-founder of both the Urban Grower’s Collective and Green Era. She has worked with the Food Depository on our hyperlocal sourcing strategy, which has partnered with the Urban Grower’s Collective.

When Green Era began operations in 2023, Erika reached out to our Procurement and Facilities teams to explore moving all of the Food Depository food waste to their facility. Our counterparts at Northern Illinois Food Bank, an early Green Era customer, also helped pave the way by sharing their experience with Green Era and providing tips on safely storing compostable food waste until transport.

Full-circle impact

This partnership exemplifies the Food Depository's Impact Sourcing strategy – investing in local businesses that support our communities. Auburn Gresham has endured decades of disinvestment and faces food insecurity rates more than twice Chicago's average.

By choosing Green Era, we're not just disposing of waste responsibly, we're creating jobs, generating clean energy and producing compost that helps grow food in the high-priority communities we serve. Plans for a vertical garden and community education center at Green Era, targeted for 2027, promise even more opportunities for growth.

The Green Era team unloads food at their facility and will separate out the packaging.

"We are excited for this collaboration," said Javaun Price, the Food Depository’s vice president of Operations and Supply Chain. "When we invest back into the community, more dollars stay in that community and help create thriving wages. It's the right thing to do."

Our inaugural delivery marked the beginning of what we expect to be a long-term partnership. Green Era gives us an efficient, sustainable solution for food waste while directly benefiting the Auburn Gresham community through jobs, clean energy and local food production.

Every day around noon at River Oaks Community Education and Development Corporation in South Holland, the chatter quiets and anticipation builds as dozens of kids gather for one of their favorite parts of summer camp: lunch.

For 7-year-old Micah Gavin, an incoming second grader, lunch fuels him to participate in the activities he enjoys. “I love playing sports with my friends,” he said. “The food is really good and it helps me have energy to play and run around.”

Gavin is one of dozens of children participating in River Oaks’ free summer camp, which includes hot meals provided through the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s summer feeding program. The meals are often a highlight for kids like Gavin and 9-year-old Khaila Harris, who’s been attending River Oaks since she was five.

Khaila Harris (left) eats her lunch with a friend. (Photo by Lou Foglia for the Greater Chicago Food Depository)

“I get seconds every day,” Harris said proudly. “Yesterday we had macaroni. Today it’s meatballs and I’m so excited. I’m already thinking about it. And there’s always something healthy like fruits, veggies and milk. My mom likes it because she works, and it helps her not have to make lunch.”

That relief is exactly what Sonya Harrington, director of programming, had in mind when she and her husband founded River Oaks in 2010. Originally focused on academic enrichment for low-income students, they expanded into summer programming in 2020 and quickly realized how essential meal access was for their families.

The importance of summer meals

Across the Chicago area, many families face added financial strain when school is out for the summer and children lose access to the free or reduced-price meals they rely on during the academic year, forcing parents to stretch already-tight budgets to provide extra meals at home.

A camper at River Oaks Community Education and Development Corporation finishes up her meal with chocolate milk. (Photo by Lou Foglia for the Food Depository)

One in four families with children in the Chicago area experiences food insecurity, yet only about 12 out of every 100 students who receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year access summer meal sites.

This summer, the Food Depository is partnering with community organizations like River Oaks to close that gap. The Food Depository partners with libraries, schools, camps and more to provide free meals to children ages 18 and under across Cook County. In fiscal year 2024, the Food Depository served more than 430,000 meals to youth through our summer feeding programs.

Sonya Harrington helps serve a camper his hot lunch. (Photo by Lou Foglia for the Food Depository)

“It’s really important for a small nonprofit like us to take that expense off our budget,” said Harrington, referring to the meals the Food Depository provides. “And for our parents, most of whom are low-income, it’s one less thing they have to worry about. The Food Depository also connects us to other resources, like helping families sign up for SNAP [the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] and Summer EBT [a grocery benefit for families with school-age children].”

Harrington’s son, 11-year-old Sylvester Harrington, has been in the program “as long as he can remember.” His favorite dish? “Macaroni. I wish I could get thirds,” he said.

A lifeline for local families

A few neighborhoods away, in East Garfield Park, the summer sun shines down on the kids at Marillac St. Vincent Family Services as they return from the pool. Swimming is part of their full-day camp, which runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and serves youth ages 5 to 18. Like River Oaks, Marillac also relies on the Food Depository’s summer meals to keep kids nourished and focused.

Jimi Orange is grateful for the partnership and guidance the Food Depository provides. (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository)

“This neighborhood doesn’t have a lot of healthy food options,” said Jimi Orange, senior director of youth services and fatherhood programs. “The corner stores sell hot chips and pop, but when the kids are with us, we can make sure they’re getting real fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, burritos. And they love it. They love oranges. They love chocolate milk. It makes a real difference.”

At Marillac, Orange has seen how consistent access to nutritious food can shape a child’s experience, both inside and outside the classroom. The organization has long partnered with the Food Depository to offer a food pantry as well as after-school and summer lunches for children. “When kids have better food choices, it promotes better behavior and better academic achievement. Food is central to their development.”

Kareemah Martin makes sure every teen gets a nourishing lunch. (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository)

For Marillac staff member Kareemah Martin, the program’s impact is deeply personal. She grew up attending Marillac’s programs and now helps guide the next generation. “It was always school, Marillac, home. This was my home away from home,” she said.

“Our main goal is to pour into others what’s been poured into us. We know how it feels when you’re doing everything you can and there’s still a gap. We’re here to help bridge the gap.”

That commitment extends to every part of the camp day. Marillac’s program is free for families, and the meals are essential to making that possible. Recently, Marillac took 12 older students on a week-long college tour of several historically Black colleges and universities, an experience that otherwise might have been out of reach for many of the campers.

A satisfying meal gives Jeremy Caesar the energy to power through camp. (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository)

The impact of strong partnership

Both Orange and Harrington said it’s cost prohibitive to provide food for the campers on their own. “This partnership with the Food Depository has been tremendous,” Harrington said. “We can take kids on field trips, to the pool and still give them a healthy meal - sometimes their best meal of the day.”

Whether it’s meatballs in South Holland or burritos in East Garfield Park, these summer programs are nourishing more than just bodies. With every meal served, they’re feeding confidence, connection and the promise of a brighter future.

“I cooked some of those up last week and they were so good,” said Effie Reed, 62, as she pointed to a bag of green beans at the West 40 Heart 2 Heart Food Mart in west suburban Westchester. “The produce here is excellent – nice and fresh.”

For Reed, who works two jobs and visits the pantry to help make ends meet, the produce isn’t just a delicious addition to her meals, it’s a vital support to her health. When she was diagnosed as pre-diabetic a few years ago, she decided to make some lifestyle changes.

Effie Reed shops at West 40 Heart 2 Heart Food Mart to help support her health. Photo by Lou Foglia for the Food Depository.

“I refuse not to be here for my grandbabies,” she said, adding that through exercise and healthy eating habits, she’s lost more than 50 pounds. Given the high cost of fresh produce, Reed said she is grateful for the fruits and vegetables she’s able to select at the pantry.

Prioritizing health

In support of our mission to end hunger, the Food Depository offers a robust selection of fresh produce to our hundreds of partner pantries, like Heart 2 Heart, and the people they serve. For more than a decade, fresh produce has accounted for at least 30 percent of the food we provide, rising each year with the overall volume of food we distribute – from 25.4 million pounds of produce in fiscal year 2018 to 38.8 million pounds in fiscal year 2024.

Sandra Storino (left) enjoys the fresh produce available at Pan de Vida Food Pantry in Archer Heights. Photo by Lou Foglia for the Food Depository.

We receive about 25 percent of our produce from government programs, another 25 percent from farm and food industry donations, and we purchase the rest thanks to support from our generous donors. To keep this food fresh for our neighbors, we have increased the number of refrigerated trucks in our delivery fleet and helped our partners increase their cold storage capacity.

The Food Depository prioritizes fresh produce as part of a strategy to ensure healthy, nourishing food for our neighbors. “Access to fresh fruits and vegetables is crucial to our neighbors’ health,” said Elizabeth Deavilla, registered dietician nutritionist at the Food Depository.

Lismarys Santiago especially appreciates the fresh fruit she selects for herself and her household at New Hope Bible Church food pantry in Hermosa. Photo by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.

“Fresh fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber that support immune function, digestion and heart health. They reduce the risk of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and hypertension while improving energy levels and overall well-being.”

Quality and abundance

Lisa Recchia, 36, was surprised by the abundance of fruits and vegetables at Heart 2 Heart Food Mart on her first visit. Her husband works as an account manager while she stays home to care for their 7-year-old daughter, who will be joined by a baby brother or sister this fall.

Tracey Campion carries some vegetables as she exits Above and Beyond Free Food Pantry in West Garfield Park. Photo by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository.

Recchia visits the pantry to help make ends meet as her family copes with “the rising cost of literally everything,” she said. She appreciates the ability to eat healthily during her pregnancy and to get fruit, one of her daughter’s favorite foods, which she says is getting more challenging to afford as grocery prices remain high.

Tracey Campion loves the fresh produce she gets at Above and Beyond Free Food Pantry in West Garfield Park. She’s trying to eat healthier and likes to make fruit smoothies. Campions says there aren’t many grocery stores in her neighborhood, and the corner stores don’t carry much fresh produce. Reaching for some celery, she said, “This is meeting a need.”

Joseph Owsiak shops for himself and his 8-year-old daughter. Photo by Lou Foglia for the Food Depository.

Joseph Owsiak, 27, visits Heart 2 Heart pantry to get food for himself and his 8-year-old daughter. Owsiak works as a sous chef at a local university, so he cares deeply about the food his family eats. “The produce here is really good,” he said. “The Food Depository always maintains a high standard in the food they provide. I’m so grateful.”

James Gant, 64, lives just a block away from the Free Food Market, the food pantry at The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago in Woodlawn. He first discovered the pantry while walking to the park one day and noticing a line outside. Curious, he stepped inside – and received free groceries. He’s been visiting the pantry ever since.

Gant, who is a disabled veteran and unable to work, says the pantry has become essential for him and his neighbors. It's also vital for him and his 18-year-old daughter, who just graduated from high school.

“This really helps out the community. It helps me and people like me who can’t get around to work. And it’s hard to afford groceries these days,” said Gant. “It’s really great for the neighborhood to have this pantry, because the truth is, a lot of people need it.”

A volunteer helps James Gant pick out groceries to take home. Photos by Kristy Ramsey for the Food Depository.

Meeting the need

In partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago opened the Free Food Market in 2020 as a response to the rising hunger they witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the pantry serves about 250 households each week. Gail Robinson, director of the pantry, says the need has not diminished since they opened.

“Our lines have stayed as long as they were in the pandemic,” she said. “People really need this food, and we are happy to be able to provide it for them.”

At a time when nearly one in five households in the Chicago metro area struggle with food insecurity, pantries like the Free Food Market are a critical source of fresh, healthy food that many families otherwise could not afford.

Eva Johnson gets ready to take home the foods she needs for the week from the Free Food Market.

Building a stronger food system

The Free Food Market is just one part of the The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago's mission to address hunger in Woodlawn. In 2020, a council of neighbors and local gardeners came together to plan for long-term food security in their community. Today, the pantry is supported by a greenhouse, community gardens and partnerships with other food programs, all working toward a sustainable, soil-to-table system.

“We want to do everything we can to tap into the resources we have here in the community to feed people, and to also give them a place where they know they’re welcome and they’ll be taken care of,” Robinson said.

Volunteers are a big part of this effort, including high school students from nearby Mount Carmel High School, who volunteer every week, helping with setup on Wednesdays and food distribution days on Thursdays.

“We are so grateful for our volunteers,” said Robinson. “We couldn’t provide for all these people without them. They really help us create the community of care we envision.”

The Free Food Market provides fresh produce and shelf-stable goods for the Woodlawn community.

Struggling to get by

Another neighbor who relies on the Free Food Market, Laura Smolenski, 57, lives in the neighborhood with her 23-year-old son, Spencer. Both are disabled and unable to work.

“I’m really grateful to have the pantry here,” said Smolenski. “It’s hard to get most places in my wheelchair, so it’s great to have a pantry to go to that’s so close.”

Even with the help of the pantry, Smolenski still finds it hard to make ends meet. She worries about the possibility of future cuts to her benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps).

Lauren Smolenski is grateful for the food the pantry provides her with.

“I’m barely making it as it is. I have medical issues. I have no income, so I rely on food stamps and disability. If they were taken away, I don’t know what I would do,” Smolenski said. “The food pantry is amazing, but it isn’t enough to feed me and my son.”

“Many of our pantry guests rely on SNAP,” said Robinson. “They are fearful of what might happen to their benefits in the future."

"The more benefits get cut, the more people will need to utilize the pantry. But we will stay strong and continue to be there for our community when they need us.”

A community that cares

For neighbors like James Gant and Laura Smolenski, the Free Food Market is more than a place to get groceries, it’s proof that their community sees them and cares for them. In Woodlawn, the Free Food Market is a reminder that even when times are hard, neighbors don’t have to face them alone.

Veronica Cox never thought this would be her reality: 37 years old, a single mother of three, struggling to find work and relying on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to feed her family.

With a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a decade of working in security, Cox had a clear vision for her future. But when debilitating hip pain began disrupting her daily life, forcing her to stop working, everything changed.

“It bothers me not being able to support my family. SNAP plays a huge role in me being able to feed my children,” she said, adding that she also relies on the food she gets from Chosen Tabernacle food pantry in Englewood, a Food Depository partner.

A woman selects fresh produce at West 40 Heart 2 Heart pantry.

A program that keeps families fed

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is the country’s largest anti-hunger program. Those who qualify receive funds on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card they can use to purchase groceries. In Illinois alone, the program supports more than 1.8 million people – most of them children, seniors or people living with disabilities. For families like Cox’s, SNAP is often the difference between meals on the table and going without.

Multiple studies have shown the positive impact of SNAP participation. When people have consistent access to food, they’re better able to care for themselves, stay healthy and support their families. SNAP helps neighbors stay afloat. Without it, they’re forced to make difficult trade-off decisions – between rent or groceries, medicine or meals.

A pantry guest at St. Gall pantry in Pilsen picks out fresh fruit to take home.

Despite this proven success, SNAP is under threat. Proposed changes to the program in Congress’s reconciliation bill would make it harder for people to qualify for benefits and may reduce how much support families receive. These proposals include stricter work requirements, changes to eligibility rules, and a shift in program costs to the states, all of which would push families already on the brink closer to crisis.'

“Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do,” Cox said of potential cuts in SNAP benefits. “(A reduction) would be a true struggle. It would cause damage."

The impact of reduced food assistance

James Gant, 64, is a veteran who lives just a block from the food pantry at First Presbyterian Kimbark in Hyde Park. Gant is raising his grandchild and trying to do so on less support than he had just months ago.

A volunteer helps veteran and SNAP recipient James Gant pick out groceries.

“My SNAP was cut from $300 a month to $150,” he said during a recent visit to the pantry.

“It makes you struggle on getting food because food is so expensive now. (SNAP) really doesn’t last. That’s why I’m here.”

Like Cox, Gant lives with a disability and can’t do physical work. “If SNAP gets cut, it’s going to be messed up for a lot of people,” he said. “Especially people that can’t get around and work. I have a disability – and I’m a veteran. No veteran should have to rely on a food pantry just to be able to eat.”

Balancing fixed incomes and rising food costs

For 88-year-old Carol Leber, SNAP is the only thing standing between her and hunger. Leber is both a guest and a volunteer at the Elk Grove Township food pantry in Elk Grove Village. After paying $650 a month for her mortgage, she’s left with roughly $650 for food, medication, transportation and utilities.

“If not for SNAP benefits, I’d be even skinnier than I’ve gotten,” she said. “I found myself not eating the right things. Fresh fruits and vegetables got expensive.”

Jacqueline Lupescu is excited to receive supplemental groceries at Together We Cope food pantry in Tinley Park.

Despite working her entire adult life, rising costs and a fixed income have made retirement a challenge for Leber. Her daughter, who lives in Arizona, is also on SNAP and disability after a serious accident. She and her adult son, who has learning disabilities, plan to move in with Leber so the three of them can share expenses and stretch what little they have.

“SNAP puts food on the table,” Leber said. “If it were reduced, I’m not sure what I’d do. I’d have to depend on the pantry, but I can’t imagine that what I get here could last me a month.”

A necessary investment

The Food Depository believes no one in our community should have to wonder where their next meal will come from. That’s why our policy and advocacy team is working to defend and strengthen SNAP and other vital nutrition programs that help families, older adults and people with disabilities meet their basic needs.

Paul Newman gets ready to take home his groceries from Together We Cope pantry.

Congress is reviewing and editing the reconciliation bill, including the sections that threaten to reduce or restrict access to this critical program. Cutting SNAP would increase food insecurity, harm our local economies and leave our neighbors without the support they need to get back on their feet.

As decisions are made in Washington, we must raise our voices to protect and strengthen SNAP. Visit chicagosfoodbank.org/advocate to easily contact your elected officials in support of SNAP and to help ensure every family has access to the food they need to thrive.

Every summer, millions of children across the country lose access to free and reduced-price school meals – the dependable breakfasts and lunches that help them stay focused and healthy during the academic year. Claudia Garcia, a mom of three children ages 10, 14 and 18, feels the effect this has on her family.

“In the summer, when the kids are in the house, they eat more. I have to think more about food for them because they’re not getting it in school, so they need more food at home,” she said. To help with this need, last summer Garcia was grateful to receive $360 in Summer EBT benefits, or $120 per child.

“I used this money to buy things like fruits and snacks for them, things that would keep them full until their next meal,” she said.

Launched last year, Summer EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is a federal program that provides families with school-aged children a one-time benefit of $120 per eligible child on an EBT card they can use to buy groceries during the months when school is out.

A family receives groceries and fresh produce from Common Pantry in North Center (Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis.)

“This benefit helped me so much last summer,” Garcia said. “Without it, I wouldn’t be able to feed them the things they want throughout the day. It would be a lot harder to keep them full.”

When school ends, hunger rises

In the Chicago metro area, one in four households with children experience food insecurity – and the need often becomes more acute when school lets out for the summer. Children typically consume up to 50 percent of their daily calories at school, so when those meals disappear, the strain on families can be overwhelming.

Summer meal programs, like those hosted by community organizations in partnership with the Food Depository, work hard to fill the gap, but they can’t reach everyone. Sites aren’t available in every neighborhood, and some only operate for a few weeks.

Samson gets ready to enjoy breakfast at Hyde Park Neighborhood Club summer camp (Photo by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.)

Without school buses running, transportation is a major barrier to food access. That’s why uptake is low: fewer than 12 percent of children who receive free or reduced-price school meals during the academic year participate in summer meal programs.

As a result, many kids lack proper nutrition in the summer months. Research shows that students who don’t get enough to eat during the summer are more likely to suffer long-term health effects and return to school in the fall two months behind in reading, a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.”

A new solution: Summer EBT

To address this growing need, in 2024 the federal government launched Summer EBT – a program designed to help families bridge the summer nutrition gap. Last year, more than 1.2 million children in Illinois received support through the program.

“It helped us so much last summer,” said Nancy Martinez, a mother of two from Archer Heights. “I was able to buy essentials for my kids. I bought chicken, meat, fruit and vegetables. The things that they like and that are good for them. It helped us get through the summer.”

To qualify for Summer EBT, families must have school-aged children and meet income guidelines – generally under 185 percent of the federal poverty line. For example, a family of four earning less than $57,720 a year would likely qualify. This year, most qualifying children are automatically enrolled in the program, especially those participating in programs like SNAP, Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

A girl receives food from Christian Life Food Center food pantry in Berwyn (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository.)

Families who are not automatically enrolled can check their eligibility quickly using the State of Illinois’ online tool at WeGotYouIllinois.org, where they can also apply if needed. It’s important to note that eligibility does not depend on citizenship status, and families can receive both Summer EBT benefits and free summer meals. The deadline to enroll for Summer 2025 benefits is August 13.

Why Summer EBT matters

Unlike traditional summer meal sites, which families must travel to, Summer EBT gives parents and caregivers the freedom to shop for the foods their children want and need, right in their own neighborhoods. And it’s designed to complement, not replace, free summer meals.

The benefits are also good for Illinois’ economy. With over $150 million in benefits distributed last summer, the program is expected to generate up to $270 million in economic activity across the state this summer by encouraging local grocery purchases.

A family shops for groceries at Grace and Peace food pantry in Hermosa (Photo by Jim Vondruska for the Food Depository.)

“I hope this program continues every year,” said Rosalba Rodriguez, 52, who has one school-aged child. “Right now, the situation is very difficult. It’s hard for people to be able to afford a lot of things. This benefit really helps me, and it helps a lot of people.”

A shared commitment to ending hunger

As co-chair of the Illinois Commission to End Hunger, the Food Depository is helping lead a statewide awareness campaign to make sure families know about this new program.

We believe no child in Illinois should go hungry during the summer. With Summer EBT and strong community partnerships, we can ensure that children have the consistent nutrition they need to grow, learn and thrive – every season of the year.

Find out if your child is already enrolled in Summer EBT or if you need to apply, and locate free summer meal sites near you, at WeGotYouIllinois.org.

"Being in Washington and having face-to-face conversations with the lawmakers about hunger and food access was powerful," said Alexandra Barajas, 30, during a recent Lobby Day at the nation’s capital with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Barajas, a Food Equity Ambassador with the Food Depository and a PhD student studying chemistry at Northwestern University, joined fellow ambassadors and Food Depository policy team members in Washington, D.C., this April to attend the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference and to engage directly with policymakers about issues impacting our neighbors.

Keila Gonzales and Xandra Barajas on their way to lobby for SNAP.

The most pressing issue they and many other advocates in Washington were eager to discuss with legislators was the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is facing catastrophic cuts in Congress over the coming days and weeks.

A critical time for SNAP advocacy

SNAP is the nation’s largest and most effective anti-hunger program, helping more than 41 million low-income individuals and families buy groceries and make ends meet each month. In Illinois alone, over 1.8 million people rely on SNAP, including children, seniors, people with disabilities and low-wage workers. For every meal provided by a food bank across the country, SNAP provides nine.

SNAP is not only essential for reducing hunger – it’s also a powerful economic engine. Every dollar in SNAP benefits generates about $1.50 in economic activity, and in rural areas, where food assistance programs are often a lifeline, the impact is even greater, especially during times of economic downturn.

Food Depository staff and Food Equity Ambassadors gather at the SNAP Matters rally ahead of Lobby Day.

Recently, House leadership proposed significant cuts to SNAP as part of a broader legislative package. The proposed cuts amount to more than $290 billion over the next decade, representing nearly a 30 percent reduction in the program's funding. The plan includes stricter work requirements and shifts some costs to states, potentially jeopardizing food assistance for millions of Americans.

If enacted, these cuts would create unnecessary barriers to food access and increase hunger across the country, especially in under-resourced communities like many across Cook County.

The impact of SNAP on communities

“SNAP is so important to our communities,” said Helen Whigham, a volunteer at the Sankofa Food Market on Chicago’s South Side, and a member of the group who traveled to Washington.

“We already serve clients food three days a week. If SNAP were to be cut, even more people would need food from our pantry. It’s already a challenge to keep up with demand.”

Helen Whigham, Skyler Larrimore, and Keila Gonzales meet with a representative from the office of Delia Ramirez (D-IL).

Whigham is part of this year’s cohort of Community Council for Food Equity, a group of passionate anti-hunger community leaders affiliated with a Food Depository pantry or program. At monthly meetings throughout the year, the ambassadors receive message training, learn how key legislation impacts their work and community, and receive tips on how to connect with elected officials.

"People come into the pantry and thank us constantly. They say they don’t know what they would do without us. These people could not handle having their benefits cut.”

The Food Depository takes the Hill

The National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference was packed with learning and collaboration. In between sessions ranging from equity in food access to the upcoming Farm Bill, the Food Depository group met advocates and allies from across the country, exchanging ideas, challenges and successes. Manager of Advocacy Molly Dubow and Manager of Policy Implementation Ruby Larson each spoke on panels.

Ruby Larson speaks on a panel at the Anti-hunger Policy Conference.

The conference culminated in a Lobby Day on Capitol Hill, where our team met with several members of Congress and their staff to advocate for the protection and strengthening of SNAP.

“It felt great to get to speak to the legislators about my experience,” said Keila Gonzalez, a 20-year-old student at Malcolm X College, who helped launch the pantry at New Hope Bible Church in Hermosa two years ago and continues to volunteer there today.

“I was so excited to do this, because I wanted to share with them my experience and the experiences of the people in my community who I serve every week.”

Keila Gonzales gears up for a meeting with her representative, Delia Ramirez (D-IL).

Gonzales is aware of how essential SNAP is in helping people get back on their feet. “When I was talking to my mom about the advocacy work I was doing, she told me that she had actually used SNAP when she was pregnant with my brother. She was only 18 years old at the time. SNAP helped her when she needed it the most.”

A powerful moment in a larger movement

For the ambassadors, Food Depository staff, and all advocates lobbying to end hunger, the experience was a reminder of their agency and power as advocates. “Doing this work is so important,” said Barajas.

“When you watch the news and see everything going on, it’s very overwhelming and you feel helpless. Coming out here and advocating for people to eat, talking to legislators, you’re actually making a difference, and that makes you feel not so helpless.”

The Food Depository team meets with Congressman Chuy Garcia (D-IL) after a committee hearing.

As Congress considers devastating cuts to SNAP, the stakes could not be higher. Millions of people depend on this vital program to access the food they need to survive and thrive. The Food Depository and our partners will continue to fight for policies that protect and strengthen federal nutrition programs.

Join us in raising your voice to protect SNAP funding. Visit chicagosfoodbank.org/advocate for easy steps to contact your legislators. Together, we can build a stronger, hunger-free future for all.

If you spend time at Together We Cope food pantry, a Food Depository partner in Tinley Park, you’ll soon understand what a vital resource it is for the more than 550 households who visit each month.

“You don’t know how important this help is for me,” Andrea Thames, 61, said of the food she gets at Together We Cope.

Thames was a special education teacher with a master’s degree and three grown sons when an injury left her unable to work for two years. A lack of income and mounting medical costs made already tight finances unlivable. Together We Cope became a lifeline.

“This pantry means me having enough food for the whole month,” Thames said.

Andrea Thames called the pantry reopening a cause for celebration. (Photos by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.)

Aaquila Hall, 26, visits the pantry to make sure her household – which includes her husband, their two kids and several children they’ve taken in for family members – has enough to eat.

Though Hall and her husband both work, she said it’s challenging to make ends meet.

“Groceries are expensive. By the time you pay for diapers and medicine – it’s rough getting all the bills paid at once,” she said. “This pantry helps us a lot.”

It’s only when you know how important the pantry is for its guests that you can grasp how celebrated its reopening was late last year, more than 18 months after a devastating fire destroyed the beloved resource.

A Total Loss

Together We Cope pantry coordinator Tony Roman will never forget the day when he pulled up to work to find multiple firetrucks in the parking lot and smoke billowing out of the building. It was the Monday before Thanksgiving in 2022 and they were supposed to distribute turkeys and other holiday food that week.

“It was brutal,” Roman said.

Pantry coordinator Tony Roman shows a guest their new space.

Thankfully no one was hurt, but everything in the pantry and their thrift shop next door was destroyed by fire and smoke, including shelving and refrigerators. Officials think an electrical spark lit the plastic bags they used to store clothes for the shop.

Concerned for the hundreds of neighbors they served before the fire, Together We Cope directed guests and food donations from the community to nearby pantries, where attendance tripled while they worked to rebuild.

“Every hang up and hiccup that could happen did,” Roman said of the pantry’s reconstruction, with delays pushing their reopening back multiple times.

The pantry is run almost entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers.

Throughout the process, the Food Depository helped with funds for construction, grocery carts, shelving and freezers. Executive director Kathryn Straniero said she was touched that Food Depository staff were the first ones on the scene the day of the fire, assuring them of our support.

“The Food Depository played a gigantic role,” Roman said. “I was amazed by the depths they will go to help agencies serve neighbors.”

A Joyful Reopening

When the pantry reopened on July 30, 2024, the space was filled with new fixtures, abundant food and joy. “A lot of people, not just the guests, were clawing at our doors for us to reopen – some so they could support us,” said Roman, noting the generosity of the community and volunteers. The pantry is now open four days a week for five hours a day.

For Thames, her first visit to the reopened pantry felt like a reunion. “We were celebrating, hugging everyone. I was so happy,” she said, adding that she had driven by the pantry practically every week while it was closed to check on the progress.

“It meant everything when it (the pantry) reopened.”

Rebuilding allowed the pantry to maximize their space to serve more guests more effectively. Expanded cold storage allows the pantry to offer additional dairy, produce and eggs. While guests used to receive pre-packaged bags of food before the fire, they now shop in a market-like setting for the items they want, giving them the dignity of choice.

Volunteer Helen Bohlig loves connecting with pantry guests.

The market setting also enables the volunteers who run the pantry – including Helen Bohlig, 65 – to connect with guests as they shop. Bohlig had been volunteering for eight years when fire shuttered the pantry. The grandmother of nine serves guests at the pantry four days a week, proud of their “beautiful new space” and grateful to be back helping her neighbors.

Fellow volunteer Bud Jensen, 71, shares her joy at resuming their service. “After the fire it was important to get back here and help,” he said.

“This is my passion – helping people and making sure they’re eating.”

New and Improved

The guests are thrilled with the new, improved Together We Cope. Jennifer Cortes, 31, works full-time at a hotel and still struggles to buy enough food for her two sons, ages 3 and 7, who she said are always hungry.

“The price of groceries is high. By the end of the month, even with budgeting everything, there’s not enough,” she said. “It means a lot to get food here.”

Jennifer Cortes selects food for her two young sons.

Miranda Blondel, 60, loves the pantry’s new market-like model. “Now you can decide if you want something or not,” she said, calling the new space beautiful.

Blondel, who can’t work due to health issues, visits Together We Cope to get food for her household of eight, including her husband, mom and three grandchildren. “I missed this pantry a lot.”

Every weekday afternoon, the Building Brighter Futures (BBF) Center for the Arts buzzes with energy as students from nearby schools file through its doors for their after-school program. As soon as they arrive, they are welcomed with a nutritious meal provided by the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Nine-year-old Javion Wright, a fourth grader at Morton Elementary, looks forward to that meal every day. “I’m always hungry when I get here,” he said. “I like the food we get here because it’s good, especially the watermelon and the peanut butter and jelly.”

BBF has been serving the Lawndale community since 1961. The organization offers a wide variety of activities for students including basketball, yoga, crocheting, arts and crafts, journaling and more, all with the goal of enriching the lives of the students. In partnership with the Food Depository, BBF provides daily meals to students in their after-school program.

Crystal Cross with participants from the BBF after-school program. (Photos by Kristy Ramsey for the Greater Chicago Food Depository)

Crystal Cross, the director of children’s programs, understands how important good nutrition is for young people. “The nutrition part goes hand in hand with everything else we do to support our children and their families,” Cross said.

“In addition to the programs, the exposure, the activities and the love they receive here, they also get healthy food which nourishes the body and the whole person.”

Understanding the need

Food insecurity among children remains a serious issue in Cook County. Households with children are more likely to experience food insecurity than those without, and the disparities are even greater in Black and Latino households.

In the Chicago Metro area, almost one in four households with children experience food insecurity. 39 percent of Black households with children and 31 percent of Latino households with children in the Chicago metro area experienced food insecurity compared with 18 percent of white households with children.

Inside the BBF building, where children are welcomed with nutritious meals as part of their daily activities.

After school can be an especially vulnerable time for many children. Parents are often still at work, and some children may not have access to an evening meal until late in the day. BBF’s after-school program, supported by the Food Depository, helps fill this critical gap by providing healthy meals each weekday afternoon. For some students, it is the only substantial meal they receive after the school day ends.

With the rising cost of food and other necessities, many families are finding it even harder to provide enough food for their children – often with devastating impacts. Studies show that food insecurity can negatively affect children’s physical and mental health as well as their academic performance.

The students line up to receive their after-school meal.

The Food Depository is committed to ending hunger among children. Across Chicago and Cook County, we provide meals to thousands of children and their families through partnerships with 52 school-year youth programs like BBF. These programs ensure that kids who might otherwise go without have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive in school, at home and in their communities.

In addition to these programs, the Food Depository also supports children by providing food for their families year-round at pantries and, during the summer, by partnering with more than 150 summer feeding programs.

A community that cares

Eight-year-old Emmanuel Lavon enjoys the variety of food he receives at BBF. “I like the muffin, the pineapple and the celery,” he said. “And the chicken sandwich and the pizza. I like all the food we get here! It keeps me full all day until I go home for dinner.”

Emmanuel Lavon gets ready to enjoy a healthy and delicious meal.

Cross is grateful that the meals are both healthy and enjoyable for the students.

“The children love eating the fruits and vegetables,” she said. “Receiving this food daily shows them that healthy food is good.”

She also sees how impactful the meals are to the families BBF serves. “Our families try their best to provide for their children but sometimes they need a little extra help.”

“Food is very expensive,” said Shamika Simon, the mother of a child who attends BBF. “I have to budget, I utilize pantries, and I utilize the school and the summer programs.”

Two friends share a meal and conversation before heading into activities at the BBF after-school program.

“We are so grateful for the food we receive from the Food Depository,” Cross said. “It is truly a blessing to our community.”

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the Food Depository is proud to partner with community organizations like BBF to help build a future where every child has access to the food they need to grow, learn and reach their full potential.

“I’m proud to be a voice for the voiceless,” proclaimed Vi Nedd as she boarded the Food Depository van bound for Springfield, Illinois, recently. Nedd was among a team of 35 staff members, Food Equity Ambassadors and Community Council for Food Equity members participating in the 2025 Food Depository State Lobby Day.

The Food Equity Ambassador and Community Council for Food Equity programs exist to deepen the advocacy skills of our partner network and individuals with lived experience through hands on policy trainings, webinars, advocacy events, and opportunities to engage with elected officials.

“Lobby Days give me a chance to bring what I have learned alive!” added Nedd, who was attending her third Springfield advocacy opportunity.

On the eve of Lobby Day, Food Depository advocates gathered to gear up for the important work ahead.

Fellow advocate Darriel Anderson couldn’t agree more. “There’s power in unity,” said Anderson who has been running Circle Urban Ministries’ food pantry in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood for the past 10 years. She is also a graduate of the Food Depository’s Food Equity Ambassadors Program, and currently a member of the pilot “Food Equity Mobilizer” post fellowship program.

“The more voices and examples of lived experiences we can bring in front of legislators, the more chance we have of making change,” said Anderson.

Addressing college student hunger

One of the changes the advocates worked to initiate this year is an easier path for college students to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). College student hunger is a growing crisis, particularly among those at community colleges, students who are parents and students of color, all of whom are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. Nearly one in four undergraduate students (approximately 3.8 million students) experience food insecurity in the U.S., meaning they are unsure about where their next meal will come from.

The Food Depository is championing a bill with the national young adults advocacy group Young Invincibles to ensure that more students, particularly those at public colleges and universities, have access to the nutrition they need to thrive.

Advocates and Food Depository staff collaborated to develop a game plan for Lobby Day.

Nearly two thirds of students in the U.S. who are eligible for SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) are not receiving benefits. Many students are deterred from applying because they assume, or are advised incorrectly, that they are not eligible. Requirements for students also are too complex, with students having to meet income limits and one of a number of special conditions, such as working a minimum of 20 hours a week, to qualify.

The bill would streamline and expand eligibility for SNAP benefits, allowing students enrolled in all programs of study at public colleges and universities in Illinois to benefit from the program provided they meet income and other requirements.

“There are too many barriers that prevent students from getting their basic needs met while in college,” said Anderson as her team met with Representative Will Davis (D-IL).

“They go (to college) to better their lives and are there to learn. We should be making it easier for motivated students to get the support they need to make it through college, not create barriers.”

“When you’re hungry, you can’t study. It’s not right,” added Nedd.

If passed, the College Student Hunger and SNAP bill would benefit approximately 98,000 students enrolled in community colleges and four-year universities, and graduate students in Illinois.

Food Depository advocates pose for a photo with State Representative Rick Ryan (D-IL) after securing his sponsorship of the College Student Hunger bill.

State Representative Rick Ryan (D-IL) committed to sponsoring the bill after meeting with a team of Food Depository advocates. “I was one of those students who had to apply for food stamps,” said Rep. Ryan. “But I was denied because I couldn’t meet the work requirements. So, I ate a lot of ramen for meals.”

Raising the SNAP minimum benefit

The advocates also championed the Food Depository’s second bill, which would raise the minimum monthly SNAP benefit in Illinois from $23 per month to $75 per month.

At a time when grocery prices and the cost of living are elevated, household budgets are being stretched. One in four families with children in the Chicago Metropolitan area are experiencing food insecurity and finding it hard to make ends meet. Public safety net programs like SNAP provide critical help for our neighbors in need.

Food Depository advocates meet with Representative Nicolle Grasse (D-IL).

The federal minimum monthly SNAP benefit is adjusted each year for inflation but is far from enough to ensure sufficient nutritional intake for program participants, especially older adults. The SNAP Minimum Benefit bill would ensure the State of Illinois provides a supplement to increase the total minimum household benefit to $75 per month, bringing it more in line with the cost of living and with other states that have raised their minimum, like New Jersey and New Mexico.

Additionally, SNAP has a high economic multiplier effect. Every dollar spent on SNAP generates $1.50 in economic activity in local communities. Investments like this help ensure communities strengthen and grow, something that is near and dear to the hearts of pantry coordinators like Darriel Anderson, who served as a Lobby Day team captain this year – her third time participating.

“Before the Food Depository asked me to be a Food Equity Ambassador, I had primarily worked boots on the ground as a pantry coordinator. As an advocate, I am able to take that experience to the other side. Being an advocate has given me a broader perspective on fighting hunger,” she said.

Anderson engages in advocacy at every opportunity, even choosing to participate on her birthday, which happened to coincide with the Springfield trip. “It wasn’t a hard decision. I view my advocacy as an assignment to serve and give back to others. It as an honor to use my voice on my birthday for others. My advocacy is like ministry. And being able to do it on my birthday is the icing on the cake.”

The advocates surprised Darriel Anderson with a cinnamon roll cake to celebrate her birthday.

Meanwhile, this was the first Springfield Lobby Day for the Food Depository’s new vice president of policy and advocacy, Danielle Perry, who described the experience as “extraordinary.”

“I was utterly blown away by the brilliance of our advocates. They were able to bring their lived experience, the people they serve and the work they do all the way to Springfield,” Perry said.

“In just a few hours, they were able to touch so many members of the Illinois State Legislature and their staff. Each member left with a deeper understanding of our WHY — why we do this work and the impact it has on our neighbors. I was honored to join this team of amazing advocates.”

The team’s time at the capital was well spent. On one of the busiest lobbying days of the legislative season, the advocates secured a total of 20 new sponsors for the two Food Depository bills and connected with over 40 members of the Illinois General Assembly. Efforts like these help pave the way for stronger anti-hunger policies that protect even more of our neighbors from food insecurity.

Learn more about the Food Depository's advocacy work and how you can join us.

Every day, at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and across our network of over 800 partner food pantries, soup kitchens and other programs, volunteers work hard to provide meals for people experiencing food insecurity in Chicago and Cook County. They come from all walks of life – retirees, corporate groups, students – united by the mission to end hunger.

In fiscal year 2024, more than 25,000 people volunteered nearly 100,000 hours at the Food Depository. Volunteers at our warehouse alone repacked more than 7 million pounds of food for distribution to our partner sites. This April, Volunteer Awareness Month, we celebrate those who give their time and energy to ensure that neighbors have food on their tables.

Finding purpose through service

When Tiffanee Lymore, 43, a flight attendant, first walked through the Food Depository’s doors nearly 25 years ago, she was an undergraduate student at Chicago State University. What started as a single volunteer session quickly became a cornerstone of her life.

“As soon as I volunteered for the first time, I knew there was a place for me at the Food Depository,” Lymore said. “I felt welcome immediately, and I’ve been coming back ever since.”

In recent years, Lymore has chosen to spend less time flying and more time volunteering. She frequently serves as a volunteer ambassador, guiding new participants in repack sessions. During these sessions, held twice daily five days a week, volunteers repack bulk food items into family-sized containers for distribution to partner sites.

Lymore has also dedicated countless hours to meeting with grocery store owners as a food rescue ambassador, distributing food at the Veteran’s Stand Down events and rescuing unused food at trade shows across the city.

“That’s the beauty of it,” she said. “As a volunteer, you can do so much to help your community.”

Tiffanee Lymore volunteers with the Food Depository at Senior Fest in downtown Chicago.

New Paths in Volunteering

David Flores, a retired firefighter, discovered the Food Depository two years ago, shortly after retiring. In addition to working at repacks and serving as a volunteer ambassador, Flores’s main role has been assisting with our hydroponics pilot program. Twice a week, he tends to basil and parsley crops in our indoor farming space, which are ultimately used in prepared meals, and promptly distributed to neighbors in need.

“I never thought I’d be an urban farmer,” Flores said, “but I love it. I’ve learned so much, and I know the produce is going out to the community.” A veteran, Flores also participates in volunteer events like the Chicago Veteran’s Stand Down. “It’s humbling to help fellow vets in need.”

“There’s so much to do here, and I feel like I’m learning every day. It’s opened my eyes to experiences I never imagined,” Flores shared.

David Flores works on the hydroponics pilot program at the Food Depository.

Delivering Impact

Volunteer truck drivers also play a significant role. In fiscal year 2024, they completed a combined 3,420 volunteer hours delivering food to pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other food access programs throughout Chicago and Cook County.

When Thomas LeClair retired in 2019 after 38 years in the nonprofit field, he sought a way to continue helping others. He found his calling as a volunteer driver for the Food Depository.

“Every day I drive throughout Chicago, delivering to food pantries and senior housing,” LeClair said. “I meet the most beautiful people—pantry volunteers who’ve spent decades providing food for those in need.”

LeClair treasures exploring neighborhoods and hearing stories from those he serves. “It keeps me tied to the city I love: Chicago,” he said. “Every day I get to do this is rewarding.” Since he started, LeClair has spent almost 900 hours delivering food as a volunteer driver.

Food Depository volunteer drivers Bill Milleker (left) and Jim Grant (right) deliver fresh produce and shelf stable goods to a pantry on Chicago's North side.

“It amazes me how much food comes in and goes out of the Food Depository. They truly try to reach as many people as possible, and as drivers, we’re a direct part of that.”

Advocating for Equity

Our Food Equity Ambassadors engage with legislators to advocate for anti-hunger policies, bringing insights from their experiences. One ambassador, Janet Edmonson, previously managed a home health care agency, where she witnessed seniors’ needs firsthand and gained a passion for ending hunger among older adults.

Janet Edmonson (third from the left) pictured at the Food Depository’s lobby day in Washington D.C. with fellow advocates and Food Depository employees.

Janet’s journey with the Food Depository began in 2022 when she joined the Community Council for Food Equity. Since then, she has traveled to Springfield and Washington, D.C., to meet with elected officials, sharing powerful firsthand accounts of the challenges her community faces with hunger.

“Elected officials need to hear directly from people,” said Janet. “It’s more impactful when you have a person sitting in front of you, sharing their story.”

“I’ve learned so much since becoming a Food Equity Ambassador. It ultimately helps me to help others.”

Community at Its Core

Volunteers at partner sites are equally vital to the Food Depository’s mission. Maria Fernandez, who works in senior services for the city of Berwyn, started volunteering at Christian Life Center, Berwyn’s only food pantry, just over a year ago.

Maria Fernandez (left) helps a guest transport the food she received at Christian Life Center pantry (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

“I saw seniors I assist in my job coming to the pantry,” Fernandez recalled. “It made me realize how much of a difference this place makes.”

Fernandez values the camaraderie among volunteers. “Everyone here comes because they love to help,” she says. “It’s a community – young or old, it doesn’t matter. We’re all here to serve.”

The Bigger Picture

The Food Depository is grateful to work with such passionate and dedicated volunteers. For many, volunteering is more than an act of service – it’s a way to connect, heal and empower their communities.

Volunteers help to pick corn at the Food Depository's annual corn harvest.

Joining the volunteer community at the Food Depository is an impactful way to take action in the movement to end hunger. Whether it's repacking food, delivering vital supplies, or advocating for food equity, every effort contributes to building a stronger, hunger-free future. Now is the time to get involved and make a difference.

Join our volunteers and take the next step in creating meaningful change.

At the Greater Chicago Food Depository, nutrition is central to our mission of ending hunger and improving the overall health of our community. Every day, we distribute fresh produce, pantry staples and other nutritious foods to our partner network, ensuring that neighbors across Cook County have access to the nourishment they need.

We also prepare homemade meals in-house for distribution to partner sites, providing convenient, balanced options for neighbors facing barriers to cooking and for those with specific health needs. Additionally, we support older adults through the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), delivering monthly food boxes designed to meet their nutritional needs.

A guest at Chicago Hope food pantry receives her senior food box, curated by the Food Depository's nutrition team.

Beyond these programs, we educate the community about nutrition and equip our partner organizations with resources to help neighbors make informed dietary choices. Through these efforts, we aim to not only provide food but also empower people to lead healthier lives.

We spoke with Elizabeth Deavilla, the Food Depository’s registered dietitian nutritionist, about how her work supports the Food Depository’s mission to nourish and empower our neighbors.

How do you support the health of our neighbors in your role at the Food Depository?

As a registered dietitian nutritionist, my job is to ensure that the nutritional needs of the neighbors we serve are met. I oversee things like meal planning, senior grocery box creation and recipe development, ensuring that everything is balanced and includes nutrients like fiber and servings of vegetables.

Nutritionist Elizabeth Deavilla is passionate about using nutrition to combat hunger.

In addition to these responsibilities, I’m involved in community outreach, visiting our partner pantries and speaking at community events to provide nutrition education.

What do you see as the biggest nutritional challenges for the neighbors we serve?

Access to nutritious food is a significant barrier. Many of our neighbors live in food deserts or face financial constraints, making it difficult to eat healthily. Even if people want to make better choices, they often can’t access the foods they need.

How is the Food Depository responding?

We’re addressing these challenges not just by providing food but also by offering nutrition education. We provide a variety of digital and print resources that pantries can share with guests, and I am in constant communication with our partner organizations to offer extra support. It’s about giving people the tools they need to make healthier choices, even when access to healthy food is limited. I also try to help people connect the dots between nutrition and healthcare.

The Food Depository's kitchen staff works hard to ensure that guests receive healthy, delicious food.

When people ask me how to manage specific health conditions like diabetes, I can offer high-level tips, but access to healthcare is just as crucial. I see myself as a bridge between nutrition education and healthcare resources.

What is the biggest misconception about dietitians?

When people hear “dietitian,” they often assume I’m the food police – but that’s not my approach at all! My goal is to help people make small, sustainable changes using the foods they already eat and have access to. I aim to provide practical solutions that support healthier choices and combat chronic diseases. Nutrition isn’t a one-size-fits-all science; each individual has unique needs and challenges.

How did you get started in this field of work?

I started out studying nursing, but I realized that my true interest was in nutrition. A mentor encouraged me to pursue a nutrition program, and that’s when I made the switch. Over time, I realized that my passion extended beyond clinical work, which led me to earn an MBA and now I’m finishing my PhD in human performance with a focus on diet adequacy.

Fresh produce at New Hope Bible Church food pantry (Photo by Nancy Stone for the Greater Chicago Food Depository).

I believe that shaping nutrition programs and policies can have a broader impact, especially when it comes to community health. The research I’m doing for my PhD helps me guide the Food Depository’s initiatives with practical, evidence-based solutions.

Do you have any goals for the Food Depository’s nutrition program?

I want to grow our nutrition program to better serve the community. My goal is to build a team of nutritionists who can provide even more personalized support to our neighbors. I also want to gather evidence that shows our work is improving people’s health – not just feeding them but contributing to their overall well-being.

Our goal is to prove that nutrition isn’t just about eating healthy food, it’s about creating healthier communities. By strengthening our nutrition initiatives, we can better meet the needs of those we serve and improve long-term health outcomes.

A pantry guest receives fresh produce at Hattie B. Williams Food Pantry (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Greater Chicago Food Depository).

What keeps you motivated in this work?

In my work, I’ve always been community-focused, and I believe that nutrition plays a key role in improving people’s overall lives. Knowing that I can help make a real difference, whether by shaping programs, providing education or simply making nutritious food more accessible, keeps me going every day.

Visit our nutrition page for more tips, healthy recipes and resources.

It’s no small task to supply a local network of food pantries and programs that serve more than 200,000 households with food each month.

In fiscal year 2024 alone, the Food Depository provided the equivalent of 101 million meals to our partner network, a record amount since our founding 46 years ago. We provided this food, as we always do, at no cost to our partner programs and the people they serve.

The Food Depository can do this thanks to the financial contributions of individual and corporate donors (who fund our food purchases), government support (through the U.S. Department of Agriculture), and a source that has become increasingly more important in recent years: commercial food donors, including retailers, manufacturers, growers and other local businesses.

A Food Depository operations worker assembles food pantry orders in our warehouse. Photo by Kaye Cooksey for the Food Depository.

With food insecurity and the cost of food both elevated in recent years, the Food Depository works strategically to maximize our procurement efforts to ensure we can supply enough for our neighbors facing hunger. A big part of this effort involves reducing waste within the food industry.

We recently talked with Lynda Rosenbush, the Food Depository’s director of procurement, to learn why product donations are even more important now and how they benefit both neighbors and businesses alike.

Why are product donations needed in this moment?  

The cost of groceries is elevated. We feel it every time we go to the store. But think about the impact of those elevated costs if instead of buying a few gallons of milk you’re buying 11 to 12 truckloads of milk a month, like the Food Depository does. When you’re buying a million pounds of an item and the price goes up five cents a pound, that’s substantial.

We strive to provide our partners with milk and many other staple items consistently – but our purchasing power can fluctuate, as can support from donations and the government. Product donations not only help feed families in need but also keep quality food out of waste streams and landfills while offering financial incentives to businesses.

Staff and volunteers rescue food from a local retailer to deliver to St. Martin de Porres food pantry in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Photos by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository.

We’ve made progress in the amount of food rescued from grocery retailers, but there’s more ground to cover. Now we’re turning our attention to other commercial product donations from Cook County-based food manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, growers/agricultural partners, packers, non-profit organizations and local businesses. It’s exciting because there are a lot of benefits for them as well.

How does donating products benefit food producers?

There are big financial and operational advantages. Donating food helps companies move excess inventory, saving them costly storage or disposal fees. For example, 10,000 pounds of food donations avoids storage and future disposal costs of hundreds of dollars and also benefits the environment.

Companies can deduct the cost of food and up to half their normal markup on donated products on their tax filings – savings and revenue that they would not have otherwise been able to recoup.

Commercial food donations help ensure our partner pantries’ shelves remain stocked for their guests. Photo by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.

Donations also help companies fulfil their corporate social responsibility goals and demonstrate a company’s community commitments. Two key laws – the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donor Act of 1996 and the Illinois Good Samaritan Food Donor Act of 1981 – protect and encourage companies to donate healthy food.

Most importantly, these companies become our invaluable partners in providing hunger relief to children, women and men in need.

What quality control standards do you have in place to ensure donated food is safe?

We take careful steps to ensure all food, including donated products, meet the highest standards for food safety. For example, time and temperature control is a strict protocol. Our teams also verify the quality of the food at several junctures: upon receipt, when it enters our warehouse and when we prepare to deliver it to a partner.

We not only believe that food is a basic human right, we believe that quality, nutritious food is a basic human right and that is what we are committed to delivering to our partners and neighbors every day.

Food Depository drivers deliver food to Grace and Peace pantry in North Austin.

I want to stress that the quality and safety standard of donated products are not compromised. Most of the donated items that come to us are due to surplus production, discontinuation, minor blemishes, underweight packaging or approaching expiration dates, making them harder to sell. We are saving them from the landfill, where an estimated 38 percent of our nation’s food supply winds up. We’d much prefer quality food go to our neighbors who need it.

Are there certain food donations that you are especially interested in receiving?

Some priority items include fresh produce, meat and eggs, grains, dairy, legumes and nuts, and entrees and soups. We also appreciate receiving non-food household essentials and personal care products, such as diapers, laundry detergent, dish soap and feminine hygiene products as those are always in demand as well.

Can you share a food donation success story?

We are deeply grateful to have many generous and dedicated partners. It takes a vast community of donors to be able to support our neighbors.

Angelic Organics, a local organic vegetable and herb farm, encouraged their generous shareholders and friends of the farm to donate their excess fresh produce to the Food Depository. We are grateful to Angelic Organics – and their partners – for providing close to 26,000 pounds of organic squash and potatoes to feed our neighbors facing hunger.

Similarly, Bolthouse Fresh Foods, located in southwest suburban Hodgkins, has been donating fresh carrots to us since 2013. To date we have received more than 13 million pounds of fresh carrots from Bolthouse as they proudly support the community.

Food donations help us provide for the one in four families with children in the Chicago Metro area experiencing food insecurity. Photo by Kaye Cooksey for the Food Depository.

Donations such as these help us feed the one in four families with children in Chicago and Cook County experiencing food insecurity. Our mission to end hunger requires us to work together – including commercial food businesses. Our country produces enough food to feed everyone. The Food Depository can be a partner to reduce food waste while creating a stronger shared future for our community.

Does your Cook County company have food to donate? Know someone else’s that does? Help ensure that quality food doesn’t go to waste by filling out our Food Industry Donation Form or contacting Lynda Rosenbush at [email protected] with questions.

Peter Cintron, 68, is a retired house painter who stopped working about 10 years ago after sustaining an injury on the job. Since then, he has been working as a rideshare driver and visiting the Christian Life Center food pantry regularly to receive groceries.

“It’s not easy for people to make ends meet these days,” said Cintron. He lives alone in subsidized housing and has found groceries to be expensive lately. “I have my business, but it’s still difficult. Getting food from the pantry makes things a little easier.”

In 2006, leaders at Christian Life Center in west suburban Berwyn recognized the need for a food pantry in their close-knit community and partnered with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to start one. Today, they serve roughly 170 households every week.

A mother and her child receive fresh produce and shelf stable goods from the Christian Life Center pantry.

The pantry is more than just a place to receive groceries – it is a cornerstone of community support where neighbors come together to uplift one another. Volunteers and visitors alike describe it as a place of warmth, dignity and care, where no one is turned away.

“Coming to the pantry is a great experience because the people here treat you well and provide you with good-quality groceries,” said Cintron.

Pam Verr, the pantry coordinator at Christian Life Center food pantry, started volunteering in 2014. After becoming the pantry coordinator last year, she now manages over 100 volunteers, emphasizing community and service.

Volunteers gather and pray before the pantry service starts.

One of Verr’s goals is to ensure that guests always feel dignified when visiting the pantry. She and her volunteer staff treat guests with care and respect. “We want people to know that it’s okay to be here, and they deserve everything they’re getting,” she said. “There’s no place we’d rather be than here, helping people get the food they deserve.”

“Our goal is to help people. No matter who you are, you are welcome at our pantry, and we welcome you with open arms.”

Diana, 34, has been visiting the Christian Life Center food pantry for the past year. A mother of three young children, she is grateful for the food, diapers and supplies she receives from the pantry.

Diana and her daughter are grateful for the food they receive from the Christian Life Center pantry.

“We definitely make use of all the food we get here,” she said.

“It’s very hard to feed three children on your own, so receiving this food from the pantry is a blessing to us. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have this pantry.”

Maria Fernandez, 54, loves volunteering at the pantry because she sees firsthand the difference it makes in her community. Fernandez, who works in senior services for the city of Berwyn, started volunteering at Christian Life Center just over a year ago.

“I came to the pantry for the first time for work, but I kept coming back because I saw that there was a need,” she said. “I saw seniors I assist in my job coming to the pantry. It made me realize how much of a difference this place makes.”

Maria Fernandez helps Diana with her groceries.

Fernandez values the camaraderie among volunteers and the welcoming environment they create for guests. “Everyone here comes because they love to help,” she said. “It’s a community – young or old, it doesn’t matter. We’re all here to serve.”

Pam Verr shares similar sentiments. “I got lucky getting to work at a pantry like this,” she said. “The community really comes together to help each other, and that’s a beautiful thing to be a part of.”

“We couldn’t do any of it without the help of the Food Depository,” said Verr. “We are truly grateful for the support the Food Depository provides us. Not only do they provide us with food but they also provide information and resources. We are beyond grateful for all of it. It’s a true partnership. The Food Depository helps us help others, which is our ultimate goal.”

As food insecurity throughout Cook County remains elevated, there’s a new way to support the mission to end hunger. Throughout the month of March, Walmart and Sam’s Club Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign enables you to help provide neighbors the food they need to thrive.

The campaign runs in stores and online from March 1-31, with three easy ways for shoppers to participate:

• Donate at check-out in stores or round up at Walmart.com and the Walmart app.
• Purchase participating products in-store or online at Walmart.com or SamsClub.com.
• Donate at Feeding America’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign donation site at either FeedingAmerica.org/Walmart or FeedingAmerica.org/SamsClub.

Since its inception in 2014, the campaign has generated more than $206 million for the Feeding America network of local food banks, including the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

While Fight Hunger. Spark Change. is a national campaign, purchases and donations are tied to zip codes and go to the food bank in that community, meaning your donations stay local and help people in our community.

Jennifer Cortes selects fresh produce to help feed her two sons. Photo by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.

This support helps neighbors like Jennifer Cortes, 31, a single mom of two sons, ages 3 and 7. Though she works fulltime at a hotel, affording food for two growing boys, who she says are always hungry, is a challenge.

“The price of groceries is high. By the end of the month, even with budgeting everything, there’s not enough,” Cortes said as she visited a Food Depository partner pantry in Tinley Park. “It means a lot to get this food.”

This year marks 20 years of partnership between Feeding America, Walmart and Sam’s Club. During this time, the partnership has generated approximately $271 million and nearly 9 billion pounds of donated food to the Feeding America network of local food banks. The Food Depository is grateful for partners like these – and their generous shoppers – in the mission to end hunger.

“One of my passions and goals has always been to feed people,” said Reginald Summerrise during the third annual Divine Nine Repack Competition at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

“Helping the Divine Nine be part of this event and partnering with the Food Depository means so much to me and the National Pan-Hellenic Council Chicago.”

In honor of Black History Month, 91 members of the Divine Nine Greek organizations gathered at the Food Depository for this friendly contest to see which group could repack the most food for neighbors experiencing food insecurity across Chicago and Cook County.

Reginald Summerrise (third from left) pictured with fellow members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Chicago (Photos by Joshua Joel for the Greater Chicago Food Depository).

Summerrise, president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Chicago and founder and CEO of Le Penseur Youth and Family Services on Chicago’s South Side, established a food pantry in partnership with the Food Depository in 2013. This was his first Divine Nine Repack Competition.

“We’re so excited to be a part of something like this,” Summerrise said. “This event is important to us because we were founded on the principles of giving back and serving others.”

The legacy of the Divine Nine

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, commonly known as the Divine Nine, comprises nine historically African American fraternities and sororities, also referred to as Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs). The first BGLO, Alpha Phi Alpha, was founded in 1906 at Cornell University among Black students experiencing discrimination.

Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. repack bags of apples that were delivered to pantries in the following days.

Over time, eight more organizations were established, eventually forming the Divine Nine. Today, these organizations individually and collectively support leadership, scholarship, service and social justice.

Three years ago, Food Depository employees who were members of BGLOs conceived the idea of hosting a repack event for the Divine Nine in honor of Black History Month. With participation from every Chicago chapter of the fraternities and sororities, the event quickly became an annual tradition.

Members of Iota Phi Theta show their fraternity's hand signs before getting to work.

Many of the Divine Nine members were motivated by the fact that food insecurity disproportionately affects communities of color, making their efforts even more significant in addressing hunger.

Volunteers making an impact

Tanisha Jones, a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., attended the event for the first time this year. “I love participating in volunteer events like this one,” Jones said. “When I joined Sigma Gamma Rho, I made a lifelong commitment to service, scholarship and sisterhood.”

“To me, service means giving back to the community. I believe in loving others, and part of loving others is serving them when they need help.”

Tanisha Jones (right) gets ready to repack apples with her sorority sister.

Food Depository board member Waldo E. Johnson, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., participated in the event for the third consecutive year.

“It feels great to be part of today’s event, where the Divine Nine organizations come together to support the Food Depository,” Johnson said. “Events like this are just one of many philanthropic and volunteer activities that the Divine Nine have engaged in since 1906.”

Waldo E. Johnson and his brothers from Alpha Phi Alpha work together to repackage bags of apples.

An active fraternity member since his college years, Johnson has dedicated his time to community service alongside his fraternity brothers. “We see this as another way to engage the communities we serve. We work in many areas to improve our community, and for me, this is a meaningful opportunity to address food insecurity,” he said.

“The Food Depository believes that everyone deserves access to food and actively works to make that a reality. I take every opportunity to support that mission because it truly makes a difference.”

Uniting for a greater cause

As the volunteers packed food until the last second of the competition, the energy in the room remained high. Once the work was done, music filled the warehouse, and participants danced while staff counted the boxes to determine which group packed the most: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Alpha Kappa Alpha works hard to ensure their first-place finish.

In total, Divine Nine volunteers packed 660 cases of apples, amounting to 22,638 pounds of food. All of it was distributed to partner food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs in the days following the event.

The first-ever Community Table Challenge, an online fundraising opportunity for the participants, raised $12,150, exceeding the $10,000 goal. These funds will help provide 36,450 meals for Chicagoans experiencing hunger. Alpha Kappa Alpha also won this challenge, securing $3,103 toward the movement to end hunger.

Food Depository COO Jill Rahman (right) with board members Waldo E. Johnson (middle) and Kelly Richmond Pope (left).

“This is the third event we’ve had, and it is a privilege to do it every time,” said Jill Rahman, COO of the Food Depository and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. “The overlap of our collective focus on community service and engaging in the work is what makes this event so fun.”

The Food Depository is grateful to the Divine Nine members who participated in the repack. Their dedication, camaraderie and enthusiasm help continue the tradition of coming together to end food insecurity.

Few places in Chicago bring fans of both the Cubs and White Sox baseball teams under one roof for a shared mission. This MLK Day of Service, the Food Depository was honored to be that place.

In the morning, nearly 150 youth from the Cubs Charities’ Nike RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program gathered to pack pasta and apples into family-size packages. Volunteers from the White Sox ACE (Amateur City Elite) program, the Mayor’s Youth Commission, the Obama Foundation and ComEd continued the work during the afternoon session.

The following day, we began distributing the food they packed to our network of more than 800 food pantries, soup kitchens and other programs across Chicago and Cook County to help neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

Ellis Alexander, left, packaged pasta with his teammates on his fourth MLK Day of Service with the Food Depository. Photo by Matt Dirksen. 

“It’s great to be here hanging with the team and doing something for the community. On MLK Day, this is something special,” said Ellis Alexander, 17, a catcher who is proudly carrying on the tradition of his grandfather, who played in the Negro Leagues.

The Cubs’ RBI group seeks to bolster not just the players’ athletic development, but also their academic achievement and civic engagement, which, for the past several years, has included volunteering at the Food Depository.

Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong volunteered alongside the RBI players.

“I’ve seen people in my community who don’t have enough,” Alexander said. “That makes me want to do my best to help.”

Many of the nearly 50 teens from the White Sox ACE program were inspired by the same camaraderie and compassion that motivated the Cubs players. “It means a lot to be here with my teammates to help people who need it,” said Paris Head, 13, a pitcher from Garfield Park.

Paris Head said it was better to be with his teammates volunteering than at home in bed.

The White Sox ACE program works to increase participation in baseball among Black youth while mentoring and preparing the participants for a successful future both on and off the field.

“It means a lot being here on a day known for non-violence and giving back,” said Dan Tucker, affectionately known by the youth as Coach Tuck, adding that volunteering is an important part of the mentoring they offer their participants.

Brooke Jenkins, 17, from the Mayor’s Youth Commission was inspired by the variety of groups volunteering together. “It’s great to watch this day bringing people together for a common goal and doing something that has value for others,” she said.

Brooke Jenkins, with the Mayor’s Youth Commission, was inspired by the variety of volunteer groups.

“It’s crazy that the apples we’re touching today within 24 to 48 hours will be on someone’s table. I’m really happy to know that we’re helping.”

Considering that throughout Chicago and Cook County one in four households with children is experiencing food insecurity, it’s likely that much of the food packaged this day went to children around the same age as those volunteering.

Josh Levin brought his daughter Hailey and son Cameron to volunteer alongside him.

Many of the parents in attendance hoped their children would grasp the legacy of service to others that Dr. King left, evidenced in his inspiring words: “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?’”

Josh Levin, a ComEd employee, brought his daughter Hailey, 13, and son Cameron, 10, to volunteer alongside him. “It’s cool to get to do this with my family,” Hailey said as her brother rushed around the room to collect empty boxes and packaging.

Gil C. Quiniones (center), ComEd president and CEO and a Food Depository board member, brought about two dozen colleagues to volunteer with him.

Levin was one of about two dozen team members brought by Gil C. Quiniones, ComEd president and CEO and a Food Depository board member.

Adrienne Grier, also with ComEd, brought her daughter Dara, 7, to help “foster a spirit of giving back,” she said. Dara seemed to get it. “It’s great to be here,” she said, “helping get food to people who need it.”

For more than 30 years, New Hope Bible Church has offered a soup kitchen to their Hermosa neighbors, using their own resources until they partnered with the Greater Chicago Food Depository in 2012. A few years ago, they saw the need for food assistance in the community rise.

“We began to wonder what happened for our guests the rest of the week,” said Ruth Castillo, who helps with the food pantry the church opened in September 2023, also in partnership with the Food Depository.

Elvia Mendoza Salgado gets food for her household of five. (Photos by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.)

Soon after the pantry was launched, the need for such a resource became abundantly clear. At first, New Hope’s pantry saw about 400 households each month. By year’s end, that number grew 200 percent to 1,200 households a month.

Ongoing financial challenges

Like many throughout Chicago and Cook County, these neighbors are still dealing with the lingering effects of inflation as well as the elevated cost of food and housing. The past few years have brought one financial challenge after another, which is especially difficult for neighbors already struggling to make ends meet.

“We’ve had a lot of people from day one. People were crying they were so happy to receive the food,” Castillo said.

Ruth Castillo, who helps with the pantry, has recruited her mom, brother and husband to volunteer.

New Hope was the Food Depository’s first partner pantry in the Hermosa neighborhood, where nearly 37 percent of residents now live below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (a common measure of need), well higher than the national average of 28 percent.

“Guests tell us all the time how important the pantry is for them,” Castillo said. “They say they’re grateful they now don’t have to worry or decide whether to eat or pay bills.”

An important resource

Julio Vasquez appreciates the fresh fruits and vegetables at the pantry.

Hermosa resident Julio Vasquez is one of the many grateful guests. Over the past several years, he’s been waiting for things to get a little easier. First, the pandemic brought everything to a halt, then decimated the restaurant industry, where he worked for 38 years before his retirement.

Next, food prices and inflation soared, making it difficult for Vasquez and his wife to survive on their fixed income.

“With grocery prices going up and other bills to pay, it’s hard to afford everything,” he said. “That’s why this pantry is so important. It offers good help.”

Janesky Osorio, right, calls the help she receives at the pantry “spectacular.”

Janesky Osorio, 54, visits the pantry to get food for her household of four, including her husband, ailing mother and grandson. “This is spectacular,” she said while gathering ingredients to make arepas (stuffed cornmeal cakes), her specialty. “It’s so organized and I love all the people here.”

Dignity to decide

Osorio isn’t the only pantry guest who likes how the pantry is organized. Guests tell Castillo they appreciate the way it’s set up like a market, with shopping carts and aisles of food to choose from. When Castillo was a child and her parents went to pantries, she recalls them receiving pre-boxed food, some of which they couldn’t use.

“Guests appreciate having the dignity to decide what they want,” she said. “It’s one of the things they love most.”

Amanda Morocho likes cooking with her mom, Maria, with the food they get at the pantry.

When Maria Morocho, 45, visits New Hope’s pantry, she’s happy to select spaghetti and tomato sauce, her 8-year-old daughter Amanda’s favorite. In addition to needed nutrition, the food also helps the mother and daughter connect, as the second grader likes to help her mom cook.

Morocho visits the pantry to help feed her family of five, including her husband and their three children, ages 11, 8 and 4. Her husband works parttime and she stays home to care for their kids. “It’s hard to afford groceries,” she said. “This pantry is a great help.”

Elaina, 32, a business administration and economics major at Kennedy-King College on Chicago’s South side, is fulfilling a childhood dream.

“I grew up in Englewood. As a child, I always dreamed of coming to school here. I have had family members who attended and graduated from here. I saw the impact their education had on the family,” she said.

When Elaina’s desire to study at Kennedy-King eventually came to fruition, it came with a few challenges. Like many college students, Elaina goes to school full-time and works a part-time job, all while raising her grade school-age daughter. Due to elevated food prices and limited time to make extra income, Elaina often struggles to afford food for herself and her daughter.

Elaina is grateful for the food pantry at Kennedy-King College, which helps her to feed her daughter.

She was grateful when she discovered Kennedy-King’s Healthy Food Market, one of the Food Depository’s partner pantries designed to alleviate food insecurity among college students.

“The market has been critical to me,” Elaina said.

Disparities among college students

Food insecurity among college students is a pervasive national issue. A study from the Department of Education reported that in the United States, 23 percent of undergraduates and 12 percent of graduate students experience food insecurity, affecting more than 4 million students. These numbers are disproportionately higher among Black and indigenous students, with nearly one in three undergraduate students identifying as food insecure.

Students at schools that primarily serve historically underrepresented populations experienced food insecurity at higher levels than other groups did. Among community colleges, the food insecurity rate was 23 percent, while public four-year institutions report 21 percent and private institutions 19 percent. For-profit colleges experience food insecurity rates at 33 percent, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) report 39 percent.

A student at Harold Washington College food pantry picks up some fresh produce (Photo by Alyssa Shukar).

Studies also reveal gender disparities, with female undergraduates reporting higher levels of food insecurity than male undergraduates. Students who are parents face even steeper challenges, experiencing notably higher rates of food insecurity than their non-parenting counterparts.

According to Dr. Allison Rose, the dean of student services at Kennedy-King College, undergraduate students in Chicago experience food insecurity at double the rate of all U.S. households.

“The Englewood community, where Kennedy-King College is located and where many of our students reside, has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in Chicago. Coupled with a lack of access to food, inflation and a decrease in food benefits, our students need options for support,” said Dr. Rose.

Healthy Student Market at Kennedy-King

The Food Depository partners with more than a dozen colleges throughout Chicago and Cook County to offer pantries on campus, like Kennedy-King’s Healthy Food Market. Since its inception in 2018, the pantry has been a lifeline for students, offering a variety of fresh produce, dairy items, protein and frozen foods. Their twice weekly distributions serve roughly 75 students every week.

For students like Elaina, the pantry has been life changing. "I appreciate being able to focus on my family and school," she said.

"The biggest difference it has made in my life is being able to feed my daughter when I wasn’t able to."

Dr. Rose highlights the broader impact of campus pantries. "It’s really more than just food. When our students don’t have a meal to fuel their bodies, they cannot be focused on their academics to learn. The fallout from poor nutrition can be psychological, mental and physical. It impacts families, neighborhoods and can be generational,” she said.

"This market creates hope, lessens worry and increases our student engagement. Every student should have the resources they need to achieve and thrive."

Making change through advocacy

While hunger on college campuses is a growing problem, most college students are not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits unless they work at least 20 hours per week or have a young child. During the pandemic, eligibility rules were temporarily changed to allow more students to access SNAP.

The Food Depository is working to ensure college students have access to food by advocating for the Enhance Access to SNAP (EATS) Act at the federal level. This bill would permanently eliminate SNAP eligibility restrictions for college students who otherwise qualify for the program.

Bryan Jones, a volunteer at Harold Washington City college food pantry, helps students get the food they need on campus (Photo by Alyssa Shukar).

The Food Depository is also advocating for changes Illinois can make at the state level, including legislation to streamline and expand access to SNAP for eligible students at public colleges and universities.

Ensuring equitable food access is central to the Food Depository’s mission. We believe no one should have to choose between pursuing their education and meeting their basic needs. By supporting policy change at the federal and state levels and partnering with colleges, we are working to remove barriers to food security so that every student has the nourishment they need to thrive.

Michael Donley, 57, is especially excited to celebrate Christmas this year. After experiencing homelessness for a decade, he and his wife moved into an apartment earlier this year. Donley recently visited the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, a Greater Chicago Food Depository partner, to gather ingredients for their first Christmas dinner in their new home.

“I’m so grateful,” Donley said. “I have a roof over my head and a kitchen that my wife and I can cook in. That’s something that I didn’t have for a long time. It’s nice when you can make your favorite foods again.”

With cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes from the pantry’s holiday food distribution, Donley plans to prepare a special Christmas meal with his wife.

A volunteer helps Michael Donley (left) pack his groceries.

Ensuring holiday meals for all

During this season, the Food Depository works to ensure that everyone, regardless of their situation, can enjoy a holiday meal with loved ones. This November and December, we will distribute an estimated 2.6 million pounds of holiday foods such as turkeys, hams, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, yams and more to over 160,000 guests throughout Chicago and Cook County. This is in addition to our regular food distributions throughout the year.

For many Chicagoans, the holiday season brings a financial squeeze, with the costs of gifts and special meals straining already tight budgets. Additionally, rising gas bills during sub-freezing temperatures often force people to choose between heating their homes or buying groceries. Food pantries play a vital role in bridging the gap, providing extra support during this challenging time.

Pantry coordinator Tramaine Martin gets ready to serve guests at a pantry distribution.

The St. Vincent de Paul Center food pantry has been serving the Lincoln Park community in partnership with the Food Depository since 2005. Operated by Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, the pantry is part of a larger mission to combat poverty through various programs, including early childhood education, youth activities, family support, senior services and community outreach.

“This pantry is very important for the neighbors in our community,” said Tramaine Martin, food pantry coordinator and director of community engagement and education at Marillac St. Vincent Family Services.

“Now that temperatures are dropping, access to food is more important than ever. Gas bills are going up, and unfortunately, grocery prices are up too.”

Sharing the joy of a holiday meal

Michael Moye, 68, is a retired house painter living alone in subsidized housing just a few blocks from the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Moye has been reliant on social security for nearly a decade and was previously receiving disability checks for an injury he sustained at work.

Michael Moye is grateful for the food he receives at the St. Vincent de Paul Center food pantry.

“My food budget is kind of low,” he said. “I’m on a (fixed) income, and they cut my food stamps (SNAP benefits) just recently. They just dropped my benefits from $36 a month to $23 a month. That was already not much to begin with, and the fact that it’s even less now makes things harder.”

During his visits to the pantry, Moye also acts as a proxy for some of his older neighbors who cannot make the trip themselves. For many like Moye and his neighbors – most of whom also live on fixed incomes – the pantry is a crucial source of nutrition.

“It’s a big relief,” said Moye. “It’s good to get this food because I wouldn’t be able to afford it on my own. And it’s good quality, nice, healthy food.”

Marta Escobar, 38, and her husband, Luis Munoz, 39, recently moved to an apartment near the pantry, after relocating from a shelter where they lived for six months. Marta and her family are originally from Colombia, and they sometimes visit the pantry when it becomes hard to put food on the table for their three children.

Marta Escobar is excited to try cranberry sauce for the first time this holiday season.

“We’ve had to move from shelter to shelter several times,” Marta said. “It’s been difficult for my husband to find work with all the moving, but he works a job full-time now, so we can afford the apartment. The food we get from here really helps us make sure our children have what they need."

George Hicks plans to use the food he got at the pantry to cook a holiday meal this Christmas.

“We are so grateful to the Food Depository for providing this food for our guests,” said Martin. “We appreciate it very much, and we know they do, too.”

By partnering with local pantries like St. Vincent de Paul, the Food Depository helps ensure that individuals and families not only have enough to eat but can also experience moments of joy and togetherness during the holiday season and beyond.

Mary Lou Gates Mahalik, 77, drives more than two hours round trip from Joliet to Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital every day to receive care for her husband of 50 years, Joe Mahalik, an Army veteran.

Shortly after Joe started receiving care at Hines for his multiple health issues, the couple discovered the food pantry available to veterans on the Hines campus. “Oh, the pantry has been so helpful,” said Mary Lou. “We get some great food here that lasts us a while, and the people that work here are so kind. We’re endlessly grateful.”

A veteran musician plays music for the pantry guests at the Hines VA 10th anniversary celebration.

The Hines VA food pantry, launched in collaboration with the Food Depository on Veterans Day 2014, was one of the first pantries inside a VA facility in the country. Over the past decade, this partnership has provided fresh produce, shelf-stable groceries and nutritious food to more than 45,000 veteran households, making a lasting impact on those who served in the military. Today, the pantry continues to serve 100–150 veterans weekly, addressing the critical needs of the 14,000 veterans in Cook County living in poverty.

This year, at the food distribution the week of Veterans Day, the Food Depository celebrated ten years of partnering with Hines to provide veterans access to healthy food.

Bob McMahon, a Marine veteran, has volunteered at the food pantry every week since its inception. When McMahon first visited Hines VA, he’d been living on the streets for three years. The VA not only served his medical needs, but they also helped him find an apartment he could afford.

Bob McMahon gets ready to serve food to veterans with his fellow volunteers.

Ten years ago, McMahon was waiting for a medical appointment at Hines when he overheard someone talking about starting a new pantry for the veterans at the hospital. McMahon wanted to give back to his fellow veterans in need, so he volunteered to help with the pantry and has been back every Thursday since.

“I wanted to help because I knew there were veterans out there that were going through it, and I’ve been through it myself, so I understand,” said Bob.

“It’s veterans helping veterans. This place saved my life, so the least I can do is pay it forward. Now, I look forward to coming here every single week. You can tell this makes a difference in people’s lives, and it’s great to see.”

Lloyd Nolen, 67, visits the pantry regularly. Nolen was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, where he still lives. He enlisted in the Army when he was 20 years old and served overseas for eight years.

A volunteer assists Lloyd Nolen in picking out his groceries.

A few years ago, Nolen visited Hines VA for the first time due to issues with his knee. While getting treatment, they offered to address other health issues and introduced him to various resources, including the food pantry. Nolen lives alone on a fixed income and finds it difficult to afford nutritious food on a consistent basis, so he visits the pantry regularly.

“They got all-around care. I get everything I need here – including food, which I’m grateful for. They have really good, healthy food, which is important for my health and my mental health.”

In addition to the pantry at the Hines VA Medical Center, the Food Depository also supports veterans by participating in the Stand Down events that are held biannually in Chicago. At the Stand Downs, veterans receive much-needed services such as medical care, clothing, haircuts, benefits assistance and food.

At every Stand Down, the Food Depository hosts a pop-up pantry, where veterans can take home fresh produce and shelf-stable goods. We also provide hot lunches for the veterans who attend the event.

Karen McLiesch, a Navy veteran, grabbed a bag of groceries and a lunch on her way out of the most recent Stand Down. “I’m grateful for events like the Stand Down because it’s good to know that so many people care about us veterans.”

Karen McLeisch receives a bag of groceries from a Food Depository volunteer.

Events like the Stand Down and the Hines VA pantry are critical, as thousands of veterans across the country face food insecurity and struggle to access nutritious meals. McLiesch served in the Navy for 11 years and has a daughter who served in the Navy as well. She hopes that veterans, including her daughter, will continue to be looked after. “Thank you for providing healthy food for us and thank you for caring about us.”

The Food Depository is honored to serve veterans across Chicago and Cook County and is grateful for their service to our country. We look forward to continuing our support of veterans alongside our partners.

Jackie Maddamma, 44, is hosting Thanksgiving this year for her two daughters, ages 18 and 5, her fiancé and her oldest daughter’s boyfriend. “You gotta have turkey and potatoes . . . and pie,” Maddamma said as she stood in line at the Irving Park Community Food Pantry’s holiday food distribution earlier this month. The pantry is part of the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s food access network.

This year, those Thanksgiving meal favorites weren’t a given for Maddamma. Months ago, her rent increased and her SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits decreased. She had visited the Irving Park pantry years earlier during a season when finances were tight, and started visiting again recently to help supplement her family’s grocery needs.

Jackie Maddamma was one of nearly 300 neighbors at the Irving Park Community Food Pantry’s holiday distribution this month. (Photos by Jamie Kelter Davis for the Food Depository.)

Maddamma appreciates the variety of food the pantry offers, especially the meats, cereals and nuts. This month, she’s also grateful for the ingredients that will help her family enjoy a festive Thanksgiving meal.

Heightened needs, holiday extras

Maddamma was one of nearly 300 neighbors who attended Irving Park Community Food Pantry’s November holiday distribution, a 33 percent increase from last year. The pantry has seen a rise in guests throughout the year, part of an area-wide trend.

Throughout 2024, the Food Depository’s network of 800 partner food pantries, soup kitchens and other programs across Cook County has served 25 percent more guests than last year. Thanks to generous donors, we have been able to alleviate the rising need and continue providing food to our partners at no cost.

John Psiharis is the executive director of Irving Park Community Food Pantry, which serves about 600 households a month.

“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the Food Depository,” said Irving Park Community Food Pantry executive director John Psiharis.

The pantry has served its community for 40 years, driven by the motto “neighbors helping neighbors.”

At the year-end holidays, the Food Depository distributes an additional 2.6 million pounds of holiday food items, including turkeys, hams, whole chickens, gravy, cranberry sauce and cornbread mix. Nearly 160,000 households will be served with holiday food this November and December in hopes that all of our neighbors will be able to enjoy a holiday meal with their loved ones.

Irving Park Community Food Pantry has a robust volunteer community that enjoys working together to serve its neighbors.

A blessing from the community

Andrea Johnson was eager to get some cranberry sauce at the Irving Park pantry so she can make her mom’s traditional cranberry-orange salad this Thanksgiving. Johnson hasn’t been able to work since a back injury five months ago and says the pantry has been “a blessing from the community” during the resulting financial squeeze.

Andrea Johnson, pictured here with husband George, says she’s the “chef of the house” and enjoys making dishes both look and taste good.

“Food stamps [SNAP benefits] don’t carry enough of the month. We can barely pay rent, gas and groceries. We scrape by,” Johnson said.

“This helps subsidize our groceries. Pantries like this are such a godsend to those of us in need. If not for places like this, how would people make it?”

Maria Cejeda, 50, visited the pantry out of a similar sense of need. “I almost didn’t come because it’s so cold outside, but realized I had to come, we need food,” she said. Her husband does his best to support their family of five on his income, but Cejeda says it’s a challenge.

Oliver Curtis, 68, said of the holiday distribution, “This will make our Thanksgiving, especially the turkey.”

“Groceries are so expensive. Sometimes we have to choose between eating meat or eggs,” she said. This Thanksgiving, her 10-year-old daughter wants to make mashed potatoes and one of her older daughters is excited to bake – all with ingredients Cejeda gets from the pantry.

“This pantry means a lot,” she said. “I’m grateful.”

We come together every holiday season to enjoy the company of our family and friends and create memories.

These special moments are often centered around a meal, shared among loved ones to savor the moments that make life special. Food means love no matter our culture, color or status. For all of us, food plays an important role in the holiday season.

One of the most special things about Chicago is the city’s rich diversity, celebrated throughout our neighborhoods. The foods we enjoy during the holiday season reflect this. We honor the traditions that we grew up with, the traditions that we share with new guests and the traditions we pick up along the way and make our own.

Food is almost always at the center of our traditions.

However we celebrate these traditions, we can almost always find food at the center of them. That’s why we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to come together and enjoy a meal, share smiles and laughter, and cherish the people who make our community feel like home.

No one should have to make sacrifices or stress about putting food on the table – especially during the holiday season.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository and our network of food pantries and programs are here to provide free food for anyone who needs it, so that you don’t have to choose between a holiday meal or keeping the house warm. With over 80 sites across Chicago and Cook County, help is all around, and finding a location is easy, using our find food map.

A community member picking out food at a pantry in our network.

As you prepare for the holiday season, remember that these local food pantries and programs provide a variety of food and ingredients to help make this season merry and bright.

You can also take inspiration from our library of recipes, which includes easy-to-prepare meals using fresh ingredients commonly found at our food distributions. A black bean and corn salsa, for example, is a great side to complement a meal, and a chickpea and chard soup will warm you up during a cold Chicago winter.

A family selecting nutritious food to enjoy together.

No matter how you’re celebrating, we are here to help you create joyful memories this season and ensure our Chicago neighbors have the food support they need to make this holiday, and every holiday, a special one.

Find free food at a pantry near you today

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, a group of 10- through 12-year-old boys sat at a table in the children’s section of the Chicago Heights Public Library, engaged in a hot game of Uno and snacking on yogurt and apple slices.

“I like the programs here. They’re fun and they help me learn, which is the most important thing,” said James Butler, 10, adding that he also likes the food he and his friends receive at the library’s after-school program. The snacks and meals are provided through a partnership with the Food Depository.

“I’m always hungry when I get here,” Butler said. The others nodded in agreement.

James Butler, 10, enjoys a snack and card game with his friends. (Photos by Faayani Mijana for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

Iris Peters, a mom of one of the card players, expressed gratitude that the boys have a fun, inclusive and engaging place to go after school that also provides nutritional food for those who need it.

“This is a safe place for our kids. It’s like family,” she said. “And the kids love Ms. Carmen.”

A deeper need

Carmen Moorer is the youth services manager at the Chicago Heights Public Library. When she started her job last year, she was immediately struck by something the kids needed far more than books: food.

The kids in the after-school program love Ms. Carmen, and she says the feeling is mutual.

“A lot of kids would come here right off the school bus, and nearly all of them were hungry,” Moorer said. Then she learned their stories – the four siblings living with their mom in the family’s car, the seven siblings and cousins being raised by their 75-year-old grandmother, children who weren’t receiving food elsewhere.

“We’re a community in need,” Moorer said.

She started buying food for them out of her own pocket, knowing that wasn’t sustainable. So, she was thrilled when she discovered the Food Depository.

We now provide daily – meals and snacks for the students in Moorer’s afterschool program – as well as food for her youth summer program – freeing Moorer to spend her resources and time on programming for the children, many of whom have come to know the library as a second home.

Freed to learn and think

The Chicago Heights Public Library program is one of more than 50 afterschool programs in libraries, schools and community centers for which the Food Depository provides meals and snacks, helping to meet the needs of the one in five households with children in the Chicago metro area who are food insecure.

Michael Russel, 10, recently learned about etiquette at the after-school program.

Most afternoons you can find Michael Russel, 10, at the library doing homework, playing educational games, engaging in crafts and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) projects and enjoying a hearty snack. “I’m always excited about food,” he said.

Michael receives breakfast and lunch at school, and his grandmother, Gail, who is raising Michael and several of his siblings and cousins, relies on SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps) to put dinner on the table for her grandkids.

“It isn’t enough,” she said, adding that sometimes the kids eat cereal for dinner when there’s nothing to cook.

Whether at school or doing homework, when Michael is hungry, he says it’s hard with “my stomach growling at me when I’m trying to focus.”

“The food is good here,” he said, adding that his favorite snack at the program is carrots with ranch dressing.

The students enjoy snacks and playtime at the library.

Peace of mind

Though fewer students participate in after-school meal programs than receive breakfast and lunch at school, these after-hours programs are vital.

Multiple studies have shown their benefits to children, including promoting social and emotional skills, encouraging positive behaviors, improving school performance and attendance, and providing a nurturing environment after school. For working parents and students who are hungry, these programs provide peace of mind.

Keshia Bardney, mom of a 6-year-old daughter who attends the after-school program often, said the program helps balance the high cost of food and helps bridge the gap between meals. Her daughter eats lunch at school at noon, and Bardney doesn’t prepare dinner for her family until 6 or 7:00 p.m., after she’s done with work and picks up her 2-year-old.

Anna Peters, 12, says the applesauce and muffin are her favorite snacks at the library’s afterschool program.

“This program is wonderful,” she said. “And the food is really good.”

Though the kids receive snacks when they arrive at 2:30 p.m., several will ask for more food before they leave at 4:30 p.m.

“Some have nothing at home,” Moorer explained. “They’re trying to get full here before they go.”

Though the need weighs heavy on Moorer, she said her passion for the kids keeps her going. “I love every single one of them. These kids are our future. If we don’t invest in them, who will?”

As the 2024 election approaches, we at the Greater Chicago Food Depository are reminded of just how critical elections are to our mission of ending hunger and building a more equitable society.

Voting isn’t just a civic duty; it’s a powerful tool that shapes the policies that affect access to food, healthcare and opportunity. Unfortunately, many eligible voters face barriers – some feel disconnected from the process, while others are simply unaware of how to engage.

This year, we’re committed to help change that. By encouraging voter participation, we are working toward a future where every person has the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.

Empowering communities through GOTV

Before this election cycle, our Policy and Advocacy team launched a Get Out the Vote (GOTV) initiative, aimed at helping our neighbors navigate the voting process. This initiative isn’t just about distributing information; it’s about empowering communities.

This election season, the Food Depository mailed out voter information postcards to 631 partners.

Across our network of pantries, we've been distributing voter education materials – covering key registration deadlines, instructions for voting by mail and early voting dates – to help our neighbors understand their rights and responsibilities as voters. While we remain non-partisan, we believe voting is a crucial way to empower individuals and advocate for a better future.

For this election, we’ve engaged the help of volunteers to expand this initiative, connecting more people with the tools they need, from checking their voter registration to finding their polling places.

“It’s crucial for us, as anti-hunger advocates, to ensure that our communities are informed, engaged and ready to make their voices heard,” said Molly Dubow, manager of advocacy at the Food Depository.

“Every vote is an opportunity to influence policies that impact food security and the well-being of neighbors in our community.”

Voices from the community

Maria Perez, 53, was visiting the United Baptist Church pantry in North Lawndale when she saw Food Depository volunteers speaking with people in line about the upcoming election. Perez, who recently gained U.S. citizenship after immigrating from Mexico many years ago, is excited to cast her very first vote. “I want to be a part of choosing who will run this country, and I want to choose the best person for the job,” she said.

Perez is having surgery the day before election day and is worried she won’t recover in time to make it to the polls. In talking with the Food Depository volunteers, she learned about mail-in voting and received a vote-by-mail application.

“It’s my right to vote, and I want to exercise that right,” she said.

Volunteers from the Food Depository are visiting 12 partner sites where they are spreading the word about the election and connecting pantry guests with the resources they need to make their voices heard. They also conducted one-on-one trainings with partners on voter engagement and provided them with materials to share with their pantry guests.

In addition, the Food Depository conducted a training session for partners interested in utilizing their own staff and/or volunteers to engage neighbors about voting. In total, 70 partners signed on to engage neighbors at their pantries, and 631 partners received voter information postcards from the Food Depository.

Tammy Bates and Molly Dubow talk about getting voters informed.

Tammy Bates, 65, frequently attends United Baptist Church and volunteers at the food pantry often. She is a lifelong North Lawndale resident and decided to become an election judge this year so she could help the people in her community cast their votes.

“I care a lot about this neighborhood and the people in it,” said Bates. “I want every resident of this community to be able to represent it, and to be able to vote for the people that will invest in communities like ours.”

Make a plan to vote

If you’re wondering how to vote, it starts with making a plan. Election Day is November 5, and there are plenty of ways to vote early or by mail. Check your registration status, and from there, decide how and when to cast your ballot. The Food Depository’s Get Out the Vote website offers all the information you need.

We also encourage everyone to amplify the importance of voting within their networks. Our social media toolkit makes it easy to spread key deadlines and reminders.

Two Food Depository volunteers hard at work.

As Election Day draws close, we urge everyone to take action. Make a plan to vote, spread the word and help ensure that all voices are heard this November. In the movement to end hunger, every vote counts.

On a warm, breezy September morning, as summer gave way to fall, over 60 volunteers from the Greater Chicago Food Depository gathered at Origer Farms in Marengo, Illinois, for our annual sweet corn harvest.

By 7 a.m., the volunteers were already hard at work, harvesting row after row of sweet corn, which would soon be delivered to partner food pantries throughout Chicago and Cook County.

Among them was Lucy Martinez, 77, who attended the sweet corn harvest for the first time this year. “It’s beautiful to see so many people who are here because they want to do something for others,” she said.

“This is a great opportunity for people to slow down and enjoy nature, but also to harvest this corn and bring it to people who maybe wouldn’t be able to access it otherwise.”

Lucy Martinez (left) and another volunteer gather corn at Origer Farms.

None of this work would have been possible without the generous sweet corn donation from Jim Origer and the Growing Initiative. Amid the recession of 2008, Origer wanted to find a way to donate produce from his family farm to people who were experiencing food insecurity.

After visiting local food banks and learning about the need, Origer founded the Growing Initiative in 2010 to plant and harvest crops to donate to local food banks, including the Food Depository.

Volunteers from the Food Depository and the Northern Illinois Food Bank came together to harvest corn for neighbors in need.

Every year, volunteers from the Food Depository and Northern Illinois Food Bank travel to Origer’s family farm to harvest the few acres of sweet corn he plants specifically to donate. Within days the corn is delivered to the food banks and from there to partner food pantries, where neighbors are able to select the fresh, seasonal produce.

Another volunteer who attended this year’s harvest was Ricky Trevil, who has been lending his time to the Food Depository since 2020. He was inspired to get involved after watching a news segment on TV about heightened food insecurity rates in Chicago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ricky Trevil looks forward to the sweet corn harvest every year.

“I learned about how big a problem food insecurity was during the pandemic, and I just felt like I had to help,” Trevil explained. “I’ve been volunteering regularly ever since.”

Over the past four years, he’s volunteered more than 250 hours with the Food Depository and has returned to the corn harvest for the last three years. “It feels great to get out here and be a part of this experience with my fellow volunteers,” he shared.

“At the end of the day, you feel accomplished, and you know it’s going to a good cause.”

A tractor helps the volunteers get the corn into trucks.

In addition to this harvest, the Food Depository receives sweet corn every summer from several Illinois farmers who plant, grow and donate crops specifically to help end hunger.

Farmers like Jim Rapp of Rapp Farms partner with the Agri Heritage Foundation, which has organized the Sweet Corn for Charity program for the past 16 years. Rapp, who has been donating to the program for 11 years, has a lifelong love of sweet corn and is committed to using his harvests to help feed those in need.

32,525 pounds of corn were harvested by volunteers at this year's sweet corn harvest.

By the end of this year’s sweet corn harvest at Origer Farms, volunteers had packed an impressive 32,525 pounds of sweet corn – enough to provide the equivalent of around 27,104 meals – into Food Depository and Northern Illinois Food Bank trucks.

From there, the corn was transported to our warehouse, where more volunteers sorted and repacked it into family-sized servings and it was delivered to our partner food pantries throughout Chicago and Cook County.

Food Depository employee Daniel Pineda brought his nephew to volunteer at the sweet corn harvest.

“There is no greater gift than to be in service of another,” said Origer. “The Growing Initiative is about giving all these great volunteers an opportunity to be connected with the land while also being in the service of another."

"It is the volunteers that come out to pick the corn that are the angels in this program.”

The Food Depository is grateful for the farmers and volunteers who work to ensure our neighbors have access to needed nourishment – and this sweet, seasonal treat.

“I love working here,” said Anthony Bonds, 25, gesturing to rows of crops at the Gary Comer Youth Center farm. “I started here as an intern in high school because I needed money. I ended up falling in love with urban agriculture and learning as much about this field as possible. I’ve been here now for 10 years.”

Since 2006, the Gary Comer Youth Center has been serving the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood’s children, teens and young adults through many programs, including their year-round youth education farm.

Two youth employees from the Gary Comer Youth Center urban farm prepare for a produce delivery to a nearby pantry.

Their urban farm grows nearly 200 different crops throughout the year, which they distribute to nearby food pantries every week in partnership with the Food Depository. The farm also provides paid internships and jobs for youth, giving them marketable skills and needed economic opportunities.

Supporting both farmers and pantries

The Gary Comer Youth Center is one of six farms the Food Depository partners with through an initiative started in 2020 to support hyperlocal farming practices. We purchase produce from small farms in Cook County, and the farms deliver produce directly to nearby pantries, giving more of our neighbors access to fresh, local food.

The program has grown every year, and to date, the Food Depository has helped farms provide more than 100,000 pounds of fresh produce to food pantries – providing local farmers a needed economic boost in the process.

Freshly picked carrots from the Gary Comer Youth Center farm.

“We love this partnership with local farmers,” said Stephanie Hobson, food pantry manager at Respond Now pantry in Chicago Heights. “It’s good to be able to offer healthy options for people. People that go to pantries deserve good, quality food.”

Respond Now receives produce from Chicago Urban Farm Solutions (CUFS), a farm just minutes away in Lynwood, Illinois. The Food Depository was introduced to CUFS in 2023, as part of a partnership with The Conservation Fund's Working Farms Fund, which provided support for our first large-scale produce purchase from CUFS in late 2023 — 30,000 pounds of healthy, nutrient-rich, hyper-locally grown romaine lettuce.

Two farmers from Chicago Urban Farm Solutions look at their latest batch of crops (Photo by Zach Caddy).

We are continuing to partner with farms like CUFS with support from the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA, known as IL-EATS in Illinois), which is supporting ongoing purchases through next fall. In October, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an additional round of funding for LFPA, which the Food Depository hopes will allow us to continue to strengthen and expand these partnerships.

Although LFPA funding is limited, the Food Depository is taking action to ensure we can keep supporting local farmers. In June, advocates from the Food Depository traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby in support of the EAT Local Foods Act, which would create a permanent program similar to LFPA, providing consistent funding for states and local partners like food banks to purchase food from local farmers.

Investing in communities

Investing in local farmers, particularly Black and Latino farmers is crucial for creating a more equitable food system and fostering economic growth in historically marginalized communities. Black and Latino farmers – who have long faced systemic barriers to land ownership, capital and markets – often struggle to sustain their operations.

Farmers Deshawn and Natasha of Chicago Urban Farm Solutions.

By prioritizing investments in these farmers, the Food Depository aims to bridge the wealth gap, increase food sovereignty (the right of people to control their own food systems) and boost local economies. Supporting these farmers not only helps them gain financial stability but also empowers them to provide culturally relevant and nutritious food to their communities, addressing food insecurity in a more meaningful and sustainable way.

“The guests love the produce we get from the farm,” said Hobson of the food they receive from CUFS. “They give us collard greens, green tomatoes, sweet potatoes; all the foods they like to eat and want to eat.”

Consistency is key

The hyperlocal farming initiative benefits farmers by providing them with a consistent revenue source that they don’t always get through other methods of selling their produce. The Food Depository provides the farms with an additional market for their food and pays them what they would charge at a farmers market.

Sandra and the youth farmers from CUFS enjoy their weekly deliveries to nearby Ring of Hope pantry.

“Stability is a major component,” said Sandra Reno, urban agriculture production manager at Gary Comer. “Selling to restaurants and at farmers markets is great, but it doesn’t necessarily provide a consistent outflow of product or inflow of income. The relationship (with the Food Depository) is helpful to us because it adds an element of consistency that we don’t always get. It makes our jobs a little bit easier.”

A recent survey conducted by Feeding America found that 75% of food banks reported an increase in the number of people served in February 2024 compared with the previous year. The rising need is driven by an increased cost of living and a safety net that is too small. Amid this reality, the charitable food system is striving to meet and sustain the high demand for assistance.

Fortunately, there are many generous people who want to help end hunger and food insecurity. And there are multiple ways to provide that help.

What is the Difference Between a Food Bank and a Food Pantry?

To begin, it’s important to distinguish between a food bank and a food pantry. A food bank is a warehouse and distribution center where food is solicited, received, inventoried, and then distributed to local pantries and soup kitchens. A food pantry is a charity that distributes food and grocery products directly to those in need.

For example, the Greater Chicago Food Depository is a food bank. As such, they don’t take food donations directly from the public. However, you can check with your local food pantry to learn how to donate food or other items, such as personal care items, hygiene products, diapers, and formula.

Donate to a Food Bank Near Me

If you want to donate to a food bank like the Greater Chicago Food Depository, there are multiple ways that you can give, including:

• Donate money at a food bank’s website. This can be a one-time donation or you can schedule a recurring donation every month to have an impact on the ongoing need.
• See if your employer has a donation matching program. Many employers will match or offer to add a percentage to their employees' cash donations to a local food bank.
• Volunteer your time packing and sorting. Food banks count on volunteers to sort and pack food for distribution to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. You can volunteer individually or organize a group volunteer effort.
• Help with food distribution. Once sorted and packed, food banks need to deliver food to their partners for distribution. Volunteers can help with this effort.
• Host a fundraising event. Organizing a fundraising event can greatly increase the amount of financial donations made to a food bank.
• Volunteer for holiday food drives. The need for food assistance during the holidays usually increases. As a holiday food drive volunteer, you can help collect non-perishable food items in your community, at your church, your place of business, or your school to be distributed to pantries, soup kitchens, and other organizations that help those in need.

What to Donate to a Food Pantry

If you want to help your local food pantry directly, you can do so in many of the same ways as those listed above. You can also donate non-perishable food. The best foods to donate to a food pantry include:

• Canned foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and soup
• Pasta and rice
• Peanut and nut butters
• Olive oil, salt, pepper, dried herbs and spices
• Muffin, pancake, and bread baking mixes
• Instant soup or noodles
• Baby formula
• Bread

How Do I Find My Local Food Bank?

You can get started giving to those in need in your community today. Simply Google “food bank near me” or go to the Feeding America website to find a food bank, food pantry, or meal program in your area.

If you’re in need of food assistance, you can locate a food pantry near you along with other resources and support.

At Cesar’s Killer Margaritas in Lakeview, Lulu Duran and her siblings are carrying out their parents’ legacy of serving authentic, quality Mexican food – and have been for 33 years now. A key part of that legacy is the value of serving the community.

“Our parents always taught us to give back,” Duran shared. “We’ve always considered giving back to be part of our philosophy.” So, when Duran learned about the opportunity to participate in a cause marketing campaign with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, she jumped at the chance. “The Greater Chicago Food Depository is an organization with a long history of doing great work in Chicago," she said.

"We were excited to partner with you all because we know the huge impact you have on the community."

Supporting the cause

Cesar’s is one of many businesses that supports the Food Depository through cause marketing, where businesses donate a portion of profits, sponsor events or use their platforms to raise awareness and funds for a cause.

Lulu Duran proudly introduces Cesar's Kid's Meal, with 100% of the profits supporting the Food Depository.

This past summer, Cesar’s donated 100 percent of the profits from every kid’s meal purchased in July to the Food Depository in honor of Make a Difference to Children Month. In addition to the support, they wanted to shed light on childhood hunger. “My siblings and I never went hungry, but that was partially because of the meals we used to receive from school,” Duran said. “We remember how important it was to get that meal from school – for our family and for other families.”

Every September, as part of Hunger Action Month, the Food Depository rolls out our 86 Hunger campaign, where we partner with restaurants in Chicago to raise funds to help feed our neighbors in need.

Participating businesses – including restaurants, hotels and more – offer different promotions that benefit the Food Depository. The restaurants dedicate a dish on their menu to 86 Hunger, and a portion of the sales from that item are donated directly to the Food Depository. The Hyatt Regency Hotel is participating by donating a portion of proceeds from every night’s stay.

The Chicago Fire donated part of a game's proceeds to the Food Depository.

Partnering for change

Tata’s Tacos, founded in 2018 by business partners Marci Romero Berner and Julia Paphitis, was one of 7 businesses that also participated in our July campaign this summer.

“When I started this business, I always wanted to make sure that it gave back to the community,” said Romero Berner.

Berner worked in the corporate world for much of her career and discovered the Food Depository through corporate volunteering. “I have volunteered (with the Food Depository) on so many occasions, and I always loved it and appreciated the work that you do,” she said. “When this opportunity came up, I was so excited for the opportunity to partner with you guys.”

Tata’s Tacos donated 10% of their July proceeds from all four of their Chicago locations to the Food Depository.

Marci Romero Berner is grateful to the Food Depository for helping her give back to her community.

Beyond monthly campaigns, the Food Depository collaborates with businesses throughout the year to raise funds that promote food access in Chicago and Cook County. Partners such as Jeni’s Ice Cream and Connect Roasters donate a portion of their proceeds to the Food Depository year-round, while businesses like the Life Time Turkey Trot and the Affy Tapple company have provided longstanding support at annual events.

Together, with the help of local businesses and community members, we can create lasting change and ensure that everyone has access to nutritious food.

Support local businesses and help ensure our neighbors have access to nutritious food this Hunger Action Month.

On a Friday morning in Lincoln Square, hundreds of older adults lined up at the Northeast Levy Senior Center to receive farmers market coupons and shop for fresh produce at a pop-up farmers market. They each received $50 worth of coupons from the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and many were ready to turn their vouchers into nutritious fruits and vegetables.

“This will be wonderful to be able to go to a farmers market and get some lovely produce. It will be a treat,” said Carol Filipiak, 65, a part-time gardener at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. Carol loves her job, but her paycheck leaves her on a tight budget after paying for rent and insurance. “I’d love to go to the farmers market under regular circumstances, but I just can’t afford it,” she said.

Carol Filipiak is excited to use her SFMNP coupons to take home fresh produce.

Understanding the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program

The SFMNP is a federally funded program designed to connect older adults like Carol with local produce, ensuring they have access to nutritious foods that are essential to their health. Eligible older adults receive a set of coupons they can redeem at participating farmers markets for a variety of fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey.

To qualify, individuals must be 60 years or older and have a household income of not more than 185% of the federal poverty level ($27,861 for a household of one; $37,814 for a household of two). In Illinois, the program is administered jointly by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department on Aging and implemented in Chicago through a partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

The SFMNP coupons can be used at our pop-up events and at various farmers markets across Chicago.

We distribute the coupons at select partner pantries and collaborate with senior centers across Chicago to hold coupon distribution events where older adults can complete a simple application and receive their coupons in the same day. At some of these events, we bring in local farmers to host a pop-up market so older adults can use their coupons to buy fresh produce on the spot.

A connection to fresh food

Approximately 75% of seniors in Chicago live on a fixed income, making it difficult for them to afford groceries, especially fresh, local produce, which is often expensive. “It can be difficult for older folks to lead a healthy lifestyle,” said William Hill, 77. “It’s very easy to be couped up watching TV, eating cookies and drinking soda. But it’s important that we stay active and eat healthy.”

William Hill and his friend Gloria shop for fresh produce at the pop-up market at the Northeast Levy Senior Center.

Carlee Holliday, 76, a retired nurse and Lincoln Square resident, lives just a few blocks from the Northeast Levy Senior Center, which she has been visiting regularly for 14 years. Holliday loves spending time at the center, a partner of the Food Depository, where she has found community, activity, resources and food.

Holliday participated in the farmers market program for the first time last summer. “The coupons make a difference in the kinds of foods you can afford to buy,” she explained.

“Mangos are expensive at the store. Avocados are expensive. When they give us these coupons, we can get these things. We can get all the different varieties of foods they have at the farmers markets that keep us healthy and happy.”

Carlee Holliday signs up for her SFMNP coupons.

Lasting Impacts

The SFMNP has had a measurable impact on older adults in Chicago. Last year, we distributed 12,000 coupons to older adults, and this year, we are on track to distribute 14,000 coupons. The program not only supports the health and well-being of seniors but also strengthens local economies by promoting the sale of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

“It’s really helpful to have markets like this we can rely on,” said Joseph Taylor of Urban Canopy, one of the food vendors who sold produce at Northeast Levy Senior Center and will do so at several other distributions this summer.

Urban Canopy's Joseph Taylor sets up his produce stand at the Northeast Levy Senior Center.

The program aims to support local farmers by creating a market for small and medium-sized farms, encouraging the growth of local agriculture and ensuring that food dollars stay within the community, and promoting community engagement by fostering relationships between older adults, farmers, and other community members.

“We are very thankful for the Greater Chicago Food Depository for providing food for us and doing things like the senior coupons for us,” said Holliday. “As seniors, we are a vulnerable population, so it’s really wonderful that somebody cares about us, and we appreciate it.”

Natalia Perez, 14, loves spending her days at Pilsen Wellness Center’s summer camp, where she creates art projects, plays sports, and receives tutoring and mentorship. She also receives breakfast and lunch, provided by the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

“My friends and I love the food that we get here,” said Perez. “Especially the salads and the fruit. We run to get in line when they have our favorite fruits, like apples, oranges and pears.”

Natalia Perez and her friends receive their daily breakfast. (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

The Pilsen Wellness Center, nestled in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood, is one of the Food Depository’s 143 summer feeding sites across Chicago and Cook County. At their summer camp, they provide healthy breakfasts and lunches to almost 100 kids every day, in addition to various recreational and educational activities.

Summer is a time of excitement, growth and learning for the campers. But for many of the kids, it’s also a time when access to regular, nutritious meals becomes uncertain.

The challenge of summer hunger

During the school year, free breakfast and lunch programs ensure that students receive the food they need to stay healthy and ready to learn. But when summer vacation begins, the absence of these meals can leave a significant gap in a child's daily nutrition.

A group of campers at the Pilsen Wellness Center finish up their breakfast, ready for the day of activities ahead of them. (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository.)

In the Chicago metro area, where food insecurity affects more than one in five families with children, this gap can be devastating. Families who already struggle to make ends meet may find it challenging to provide two more meals a day for each child. This additional cost can strain already tight budgets, leading to difficult choices between paying for groceries, rent or other necessities.

Responding to the need

Recognizing this critical need, the Food Depository provides summer feeding programs that support children and families during the months when school is out. These programs are a lifeline for many, providing reliable access to nutritious meals.

“It’s hard for families in the summer,” said Aquanita Epps, Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) coordinator at the Chicago Housing Authority’s Dearborn Homes in Bronzeville. "There are parents out here that cannot afford to eat a meal morning, noon and at night. Some families can only cook a meal at night for their kids. Some can barely do that."

Aquanita Epps is grateful to the Food Depository for providing food for her neighbors in the Dearborn Homes. (Photo by Kristy Ramsey for the Food Depository.)

SFSP sites are often located in community centers, parks, libraries and other locations where children and families can easily access meals. The federally funded program provides free, healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks to children ages 18 and younger.

Every day during the summer, Epps works in a small kitchen in the housing complex and serves two daily meals, in partnership with the Food Depository, to children who live in the building. The program is open to all, so residents often bring their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews who need a nutritious meal.

“Some parents send their kids down to get food with us every single day, because it makes such a difference to them,” said Epps. “I’m happy that you all have this for the kids.”

Kaylee Johnson and her cousin enjoy a lunch of chicken tacos together. (Photo by Kristy Ramsey for the Food Depository.)

“I like the food here; it’s very good,” said Kaylee, 4, as she ate a meal with her two older cousins. “My favorite is the pizza!”

Providing healthy options

The food served through the Summer Food Service Program meets federal nutrition guidelines and is designed to provide the nutrients kids need to grow, learn and play – including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.

“Nutrition is so important for children,” said Victor Soria, program coordinator of the Pilsen Wellness Center’s summer camp. “Some of these kids, their parents work all day; they don’t have the time or money to buy them healthy food."

"For them to come here every day and get fruits, vegetables, nutritious food, it can make a big difference in their development.”

Victor Soria talks to a group of campers as they enjoy their breakfast. (Photo by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository.)

In addition to the healthy meals provided through SFSP, the Food Depository also distributes food via our Lunch Buses, a mobile meal program that travels to convenient neighborhood locations to provide free nutritious lunches throughout Cook County. These programs not only address the immediate need for food but also contribute to the long-term health and well-being of children.

“We’re so lucky that we get to do this kind of work,” said Soria. “To be able to make a difference in the lives of the kids is a beautiful thing. The Greater Chicago Food Depository is an important part of our program, because children need to eat nutritious food in order to lead healthy lives, and the Food Depository helps us make sure that happens.”

Portia Rogers, 31, is grateful that her 8-year-old daughter, Isis, likes eating fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, these healthy options are expensive. While a medical condition prevents Rogers from working, she does her best to provide for her daughter on her disability benefits.

For most of the year, Isis receives free breakfast and lunch at school. “I’m happy she can focus on her schoolwork and not her growling stomach,” Rogers said.

But when classes end and summer begins, Rogers, along with thousands of other parents across Chicago and Cook County, faces the challenge of providing two additional meals per child each day compared to during the school year.

Portia's daughter, Isis, loves the meal she received at the Chicago Heights Public Library. (Photo by Faayani Mijana for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

For many families, this burden can be significant. Food insecurity levels in Chicago are as high as they were during the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and families are still recovering from the effects of inflation, elevated food prices, high housing costs and the rollback of crucial pandemic-relief programs, making it difficult to afford even basic expenses such as food.

Devastating impacts

As a result of families’ struggle to afford food, many children endure a summer nutrition deficit, which can have a devastating impact on young, growing bodies. Many students who don’t get enough food also experience a “summer slide” in their educational level, often returning to school up to two months behind in reading.

An Erie Elementary Charter School student enjoys a healthy meal. (Photo by Nancy Stone for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

This is the reality for many families in Chicago, where 21 percent of households with children are food insecure. Approximately 40 percent of families with children in Chicago receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, indicating both the need and the importance of food assistance programs among families in the city.

In response to the need, the federal government passed Summer EBT in 2023, and 37 states have worked to implement the program this year. Summer EBT (electronic benefits transfer) will provide families with school-aged children an electronic benefits transfer card to purchase groceries during the months when school is out.

This summer, qualifying families with children will receive a one-time benefit of $120 per child. To qualify, a family’s household income must be at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

Working toward a healthy future

Summer EBT is projected to make a significant impact on children’s nutrition this summer, alleviating food insecurity among children and their families, providing much-needed relief for parents and creating positive economic impacts. By giving families an EBT card to spend at grocery stores, the program will help generate an estimated $247 million in economic activity in Illinois.

Alex and Samson eat breakfast at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club summer camp. (Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis for the Food Depository.)

The Food Depository has led a statewide awareness campaign for Summer EBT as part of our role as cochair of the Illinois Commission to End Hunger. We have worked with the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Human Services to mobilize community organizations across the state to reach out to families.

We created a new website, www.wegotyouillinois.org, for families to learn all about Summer EBT and how to get connected, as well as a toolkit of outreach materials (poster, flyers, social media messages and graphics, FAQs) available in multiple languages including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Polish, and Urdu.

A group of students eat a meal at the Barreto Union League Boys and Girls Club. (Photo by Nancy Stone for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

The Food Depository is excited to help raise awareness about Summer EBT, which will help ensure that all Illinois children remain nourished and active during the summer, ready to resume learning when classes begin in the fall.

The road to Summer EBT

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) first tested a summer grocery benefit for families who were eligible for free or reduced lunch in 2011, exploring different benefit amounts and implementation methods.

The results were overwhelmingly positive. Among participating families, kids’ consumption of whole grains, dairy, fruits and vegetables increased, and the pilot program was found to decrease the number of children experiencing very low food insecurity by one third, proving that grocery benefits are effective in reducing food insecurity.

Two friends drink chocolate milk at the Kelly Hall YMCA in Humboldt Park. (Photo by Alyssa Schukar for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.)

Anti-hunger advocates throughout the country, including those at the Food Depository, have urged legislators to expand the pilot program for years. After over a decade of advocacy, in December 2022, policymakers in Washington, D.C. enacted legislation to make Summer EBT a permanent program. Illinois was among the first states to commit to offering the program in summer 2024.

Chicago mom Rogers is grateful for the extra support this summer. “It will help me keep up Isis’ good eating habits,” she said, acknowledging that the program will help set her daughter up for a healthy future.

Visit www.wegotyouillinois.org for additional information about Summer EBT.

On a bright, sunny day in early May, more than 30 advocates representing the Food Depository filed into two vans to make their way to Springfield, Illinois, to advocate for food equity.

Food Depository partners, staff, board members and alumni of our Food Equity Ambassador and Community Council for Food Equity advocacy training programs, attended the trip, all buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the day of advocacy ahead of them.

Representing our communities

“When the Food Depository asked me to come to Springfield, I immediately said yes, because this type of work is so important to me,” said Mounia Williams-Hardaman, director and coordinator of the South Shore United Methodist Community Center (SSUMCC) food pantry, and first-time Lobby Day participant.

Mounia Williams-Hardaman (second from the right), and other Food Depository advocates stop for a photo with Senator Bill Cunningham.

“I am an advocate for political awareness, so now it’s time to be on the other side of that, talking to the legislators and not the constituents. It’s exciting to represent my community and the community that the pantry serves.”

During a final training session in Springfield, Food Depository executive director and CEO, Kate Maehr, told the advocates, “Tomorrow is my favorite day of the year. The work that we are doing here in the capitol is so important. Each and every one of you that is here is making a difference and raising your voice for your communities.”

The next day, the advocates split into groups to meet with legislators, lobbying for two bills – Farm to Food Bank program and Access to School Breakfast.

Support for families and farmers

The Illinois Farm to Food Bank program aims to support families, farmers and food producers by purchasing Illinois-grown and -raised products for food banks and pantries. Last year, our Lobby Day participants advocated for the Farm to Food Bank bill – which passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly shortly thereafter. This year we advocated to ensure the program was properly funded in the state budget.

Sophie Milam, VP of Policy and Advocacy, stops a senator in the hallway to advocate on behalf of the Food Depository.

“Fresh produce is the most requested item we get at the pantry,” said Williams-Hardaman, noting that the SSUMC food pantry has only two grocery stores in a 10-mile radius. “Before any canned goods, shelf goods, meat, anything, people want fruits and vegetables the most because those are the things that they don’t have access to.”

“If Farm to Food Bank gets funded, we could get that produce from our community to our community. It’s beneficial to us and the farmers.”

“To me, this is a no-brainer,” said Senator Mattie Hunter (D-IL) in reference to the Farm to Food Bank Bill, which she co-sponsored. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Our advocacy for funding for Farm to Food Bank was ultimately successful, and the General Assembly included our full ask of $2.5 million in the Illinois FY25 budget!

More meals for more students

The group also advocated for funding to create a grant program to help schools implement or expand Breakfast After the Bell programs, which are a proven model to boost school breakfast participation. This investment is especially important given that Illinois ranks 35th among all states in school breakfast participation and there is a clear link between breakfast and health and academic outcomes.

The Access to School Breakfast bill would have also eliminated the “reduced price” co-pay that some low-income families pay for school breakfast and lunch by mandating that the state cover those costs rather than the families.

Laverne Horgan (center), with other Food Depository advocates, staff, and board members, wait to meet with a legislator.

“All students deserve to be able to eat a healthy meal,” said Laverne Horgan, 85, coordinator of Church of the Holy Spirit Food Pantry, a Food Depository partner.

“Children all deserve to eat a morning meal, regardless of whether they show up on time or not, and regardless of whether they have money or not.”

Our advocacy made a difference, and the Breakfast After the Bell school grant program was funded at our requested $300,000! The reduced-price elimination was not funded in FY25, but we will continue to work with our state partners to ensure that all students have access to nutritious school meals.

Important impacts

At the end of the Springfield Lobby Day, the advocates’ efforts had a significant impact. They acquired multiple new bill sponsors in the Illinois Senate, as well as new commitments from Representatives willing to offer their support for the bills during the fiscal year 2025 budget discussions. Ultimately, the advocates collected enough support from General Assembly champions for both bills to be included in the final state budget weeks later.

A team of ambassadors meets Representative Mary Beth Canty.

“Coming here and talking to the legislators is important because we can make them aware of what’s happening within the communities we serve,” Horgan said.

“They have so many issues they’re dealing with, but seeing us in person, hearing what’s happening from the people that see what’s within the communities, that puts these issues to the front of their minds.”

On to Capitol Hill

Shortly after the Springfield visit, a group of advocates representing several of our partner organizations, including alumni of our Food Equity Ambassador and Community Council for Food Equity advocacy training programs, accompanied five Food Depository staff members at an anti-hunger Lobby Day in Washington, D.C. to talk about the Farm Bill.

Federal nutrition programs and the emergency food system work together to protect Illinois families against hunger and improve their access to nutritious food. Several of these programs, such as SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps), are authorized in the Farm Bill, making it a critical opportunity to strengthen our nutritional safety net to work better for Illinois residents.

In May, leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees released two very different visions for the Farm Bill. The Senate bill would protect and strengthen SNAP and make other critical investments in our nation’s nutrition safety net. In stark contrast, the House proposal would result in a $30 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade.

Food Depository advocates meet with Congressman Jonathan Jackson.

Food Depository staff and advocates met with every office in our congressional delegation to discuss the importance of protecting and strengthening SNAP, which is included in the Farm Bill, and to share impactful stories about hunger in our communities and the need for action. Members were appreciative of our work and eager to support our efforts to end hunger for all.

“Our collective Farm Bill advocacy is more important now than ever, as the House passed a harmful bill out of the agriculture committee,” shared Molly Dubow, Manager of Advocacy at the Food Depository.

“During this recent trip, Senators and Representatives serving Cook County communities were eager to discuss ways we can strengthen and protect SNAP, and wanted to know how they can support our anti-hunger work.”

A team of ambassadors meets with Senator Robert Peters.

Continuing efforts back home

As the advocates in both Washington D.C. and Springfield started their journey back to Chicago, they carried with them a sense of accomplishment and determination. Their voices had been heard, their causes championed, and their commitment to ending hunger reaffirmed.

“Everything about this trip was inspiring,” said Williams-Hardaman. “Learning from all the Food Depository staff, hearing people’s passion about ending hunger, it was really amazing. I’m excited to come back next year and do this again, but I also feel like this reinvigorated my passion to go back to my community and keep doing this work."

As summer arrives, families across the city are eagerly anticipating the joys of the season—barbecues with friends and family, laughter-filled gatherings at the beach or the park, and cherished moments shared under the warm sun.

Yet, in the middle of the excitement, 1 in 4 Chicago area families with children face the stark reality of food insecurity, a challenge made more difficult during the summer months when school-provided meals also break for the summer. Lunches provided at school give families much-needed relief from providing three meals a day per child, straining already tight budgets.

Nutritious summer lunches being provided to children in Chicago.

Some Chicagoland communities are at greater risk of experiencing food insecurity. Neighborhoods like Humboldt Park and Austin on the city’s northwest and west sides have child poverty rates of 34 and 35 percent respectively. This is significantly higher than the 17 percent rate for the city according to Census data tracked by the Food Depository.

That’s why one of the main focuses of the Greater Chicago Food Depository is ensuring that every child has access to the nourishing meals they need to thrive when school is out of session.

Food is not merely sustenance but a cornerstone of family life, a way to show love and a vibrant expression of community. Our way of honoring that is making sure families get the food they need when they need it, where they need it.

Meeting Families Where They Are

Our belief that no child should go without nutritious meals during the summer months, or at any time of the year, shows in our goal to be everywhere families need us. We partner with food pantries and other organizations in neighborhoods that serve as cultural hubs and are familiar to area residents.

From Pilsen and Humboldt Park to Chatham and Portage Park, our network of over 800 pantries and programs offer more than just food—they offer peace of mind, with familiar, kid-friendly ingredients that honor the diverse culinary traditions across our communities.

Greater Chicago Food Depository handing out summer lunches to kids.

Our find food map allows visitors to view hours, locations and other information for the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s network of food pantries, meal programs and distribution partners across Chicago and Cook County.

The map is designed to connect you with resources in just one click, whether you need help finding where to get free groceries or help locating the nearest soup kitchen for a hot meal right away.

At the end of a busy school year, families facing stress and hardship might find it daunting to find food resources. In addition to visiting local food pantries, summer meal programs for children are also available in the summer.

Families can simply text ‘FOOD’ or ‘COMIDA’ to 304-304 to see where they can access their nearest summer meal sites at local libraries, parks and community centers.

Summer EBT is another way families can receive support when their children are not receiving free or reduced-fee meals during the school year. This program assists families in affording groceries by providing a one-time benefit of $120 per eligible child distributed on EBT cards that can be used for SNAP-eligible items at authorized retail stores.

There is no citizenship requirement. Learn more about Summer EBT and find out if your child is eligible.

Kids line up for hot lunch distribution at Kidwatch Plus.

This summer, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and our partners look forward to making sure that every child’s summer is filled with nourishment and joy and every parent’s heart is filled with the tranquility of a food-secure season.

When the pandemic hit in 2020, Noemi Guzman, 60, had just retired, and was living with her oldest son, who was working in construction. Like many construction workers, he lost his job during the pandemic.

With neither of them working and bills still arriving, Guzman turned to Grace and Peace pantry in North Austin, which she had heard about through a friend.

“They gave me sufficient food for me and my son to survive during the pandemic,” she said. At the time, Guzman, along with a group of volunteers in her neighborhood, were helping to run a soup kitchen for neighbors who were unhoused in partnership with their church.

“This was my passion,” she said. “But I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to continue. I thought I might have to stop this volunteer work to get a job.”

Pantry guest Bryan Desera, 40, picks out fresh produce to take home.

The food that she got from Grace and Peace every week ensured that she and her son were able to get through the pandemic without her having to come out of retirement. “I was able to keep feeding people at the soup kitchen because I had enough food for myself and my son. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them (Grace and Peace).”

Since then, Guzman has attended pantry distributions at Grace and Peace often.

“I am so grateful for the food I have received from this pantry. It’s been so helpful to me. I’ve eaten great from here – meat, rice, eggs, milk, everything. It’s been a blessing.”

Pantry Coordinator, Carmen Rodriguez, fills bins with household items for guests.

Since the pandemic, Grace and Peace pantry has been a vital resource in the North Austin and Hermosa communities for many people, like Noemi. One of the pantry’s coordinators, Carmen Rodriguez, has seen hundreds of people walk through the door since she started volunteering at the pantry in 2019.

“Sometimes people come in here and this overwhelms them,” said Rodriguez, gesturing to the many rows of produce and non-perishable foods that make up the pantry. “They come for just your basic milk and bread, and when they come in here and see the abundance of food, I see the impact it has on them, the gratitude on their faces.”

The Grace and Peace pantry opened its new space to the public in March.

Due to high demand, in March of 2024, Grace and Peace expanded their pantry in partnership with the Food Depository. They added on to their building to create a larger, dedicated space for the pantry, which allowed them to serve more neighbors and expand their distribution dates.

The pantry now hosts distributions three days a week, serving about 600 people weekly, compared to the 400 people they served during the height of the pandemic.

“Now with the bigger space we can accommodate more, which means that we can serve more,” Rodriguez said.

Pantry guests wait in line for the pantry to open for the day.

The influx of people they saw when they opened the expanded pantry was instant. “It’s been something that we didn’t expect. We thought that what we had was big, but it’s just getting bigger and bigger. The need for food in Chicago is still very much there, just as much or even more than it was in the pandemic, and we want to do as much as we can to relieve that.”

The rise in attendance that Grace and Peace pantry has seen in recent months reflects the rising needs that our partner sites across Chicago and Cook County are also seeing. In the first three months of 2024, our network partners served 26 percent more guests than the same period last year.

Ruth Mendez and her daughters shop for food at Grace and Peace pantry.

Ruth Mendez, 34, has been attending pantry distributions at Grace and Peace for the past few months. Mendez arrived in Chicago from Venezuela with her family less than a year ago. Her husband works in construction, and she stays home to care for their two young daughters, who are 5 years old and 6 months old.

“The food I get here helps me so much because my family is living off one income,” said Mendez. “Although my husband works full-time, his salary isn’t enough to sustain the four of us. The pantry helps me with not only food, but also supplies for the baby and for my older daughter. I can get a lot of things here that are necessities. It is so helpful to me.”

Pastor Elsie Rodriguez takes time to greet the people in line before the pantry opens for the day.

Pastor and pantry coordinator, Elsie Rodriguez, says that over the years, she has seen people from all walks of life come to the pantry. “Families, single people, old, young, disabled, Black, white, Latino, Asian, you name it – there’s no one type of person that comes to this pantry,” she said.

“You never know anybody’s circumstances. We’re here to serve all people, no matter where they come from or what their situation is.”

A volunteer helps a pantry guest choose different foods to take home.

“It’s an honor to come here and serve these people,” said Carmen Rodriguez. “They come out here and wait in line for food, but it’s not just physical nourishment that they seek. They come here for emotional and mental nourishment, too. People often come here stressed, and there’s nothing greater than seeing them walk through the doors and relax. The smile on their face when they leave is the best thing in the world.”

Timothy Evans, 41, served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, 5 months and 18 days. He joined the Army when he was 18 years old and left in May of last year. “It was a real good experience,” he said of his time serving. “I learned discipline, and I felt that what I was doing was important because I was serving my country.”

Since leaving the military, Evans has struggled to stay afloat. He lives alone in subsidized housing, and he has yet to find work. He often visits the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center to receive resources, which is where he learned about the Chicago Stand Down.

Food Depository volunteers set up tables full of food for the Stand Down.

Held every summer and winter, the Chicago Stand Down events help veterans who are unhoused, housing-insecure and in need by providing them access to goods and services, such as housing assistance, medical and mental health services, employment assistance, food and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance, veteran benefits assistance, haircuts, clothing, winter coats and more.

The events are organized by a committee of local nonprofits that’s led by Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, both long-time partners of the Food Depository. This coming Veterans Day, our partner food pantry at Hines VA will celebrate ten years of providing food to veterans.

A veteran picks out food to take home.

At a recent Chicago Stand Down, the Food Depository came equipped with 20 volunteers and a full truckload of canned foods, shelf-stable goods, snacks and fresh produce for the veterans to take home. A representative from our benefits outreach team shared with veterans about the benefits they’re eligible to receive and about our partner food pantries in their area.

“I’m grateful for all the things I’ve gotten today. They are going to make a big difference for me. Especially this fruit,” Evans said of the oranges he received at the Food Depository’s table. “I don’t get this where I live.”

In the United States, food insecurity rates among veterans are higher than the national average. According to Feeding America, approximately 1.5 million veterans live in households that rely on food assistance programs.

Former Marine Edward Castaneda volunteers at Stand Down events frequently.

“Events like the Stand Down show how real the need is,” said volunteer and former Marine Edward Castaneda, 58. “At the last Stand Down, we served almost 400 people. It makes a great difference for them, not only to receive the help, but to see the community coming together for them.”

Issa Saleh Umi, 77, a former Navy officer, gathered a bag of canned goods and fresh produce from the Food Depository table, thanking the volunteers and catching up with an old friend on his way out. Umi resides on the far south side and traveled almost two hours via bus to get to the Stand Down.

A volunteer helps Issa Saleh Umi gather his food.

 “It makes me feel proud to be here and to see that people care about us,” said Umi. “We as veterans have gone through a lot. We’ve seen a lot. So, it’s nice to come to the Stand Down and be together and feel appreciated. I’ve been coming to these things for 10 years.”

“It’s bittersweet to be here, because on the one hand, you have all these people coming together and making a difference, but on the other hand, it makes you see how many veterans need assistance,” said Castaneda. “It’s an honor to be here today and get to give back to these veterans that have given so much to us as Americans.”

Issa Saleh Umi expresses gratitude for the resources and food he received.

The Food Depository is grateful for the service of veterans like Timothy Evans and Issa Saleh Umi – and we are deeply thankful for the opportunity to serve veterans alongside our community partners.

Our support for veterans is only possible with the help of our donors. Help alleviate hunger for veterans and other neighbors.

Susan Rizo is an 11-year-old fifth grader who loves to read, cook, go on field trips to the zoo, and work at the library. She credits these interests, in large part, to Club One, the original Union League Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, where she has been going for activities and a meal nearly every day after school for the past four years.

“I love it here,” she says. “On the days that I come here, I’m really happy, because I get to see my friends and participate in activities.”

Club One, located in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, has been serving the Pilsen community since 1919.  At Club One, kids like Susan can play sports, participate in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, learn about nutrition, spend time with peers and, perhaps most importantly, receive a meal that they might not receive at home.

Naomi Hernandez receives her daily meal from Club One.

Always Enough

In partnership with the Food Depository, Club One provides nearly 200 children ages 5-18 with a daily, nutritious meal every time they visit. “We see the need,” says program director Anabel Hernandez. “We always try to prioritize food security because that’s something that is never set in stone for any of our families.”

“We always have to keep in mind that the children and the families we serve do predominantly come from low-income households,” says Hernandez.

“For some of these kids, this might be the only vegetable they get all day. It’s not uncommon for kids to come up for seconds or even thirds. We’re grateful that the Food Depository provides enough food so that we always have enough to feed our kids.”

Johana Rodriguez loves coming to Club One after school every day.

For Johana Rodriguez, 9, some of the foods she eats at Club One serve as a reminder of home. Johana immigrated from Honduras to Chicago last year. She’s still getting used to the cold, but the food she receives at Club One is helping her acclimate.

“I love the turkey because they make it so delicious,” says Johana. “It feels like I’m in Honduras, because it tastes just like the turkey I ate there, in my home.”

Consistent Healthy Meals

The staff at Club One also appreciate the Food Depository for providing foods that are different from what the kids might be used to. “They all love when they get foods like pozole, pineapple, and cooked turkey,” says Hernandez. “To them, it’s something special and different.” She appreciates both the variety and the nutritional value of the food they receive from the Food Depository. “They’re very mindful of what’s made and with what ingredients.”

Payton Reed enjoys a carton of milk at snack time.

Both Susan and Johana, along with most of the children who attend Club One, engage with the program almost every day. They refer to themselves as 'Club Kids,' or kids who have grown up at Club One. Many of them start attending Club One for the first time when they are as young as 5 years old and continue until high school.

Members of Club One see it as a community—a second home. For this reason, Hernandez says, consistency and reliability are important.

“The fact that we have consistent healthy meals (from the Food Depository) for all our program dates means so much because it helps us create a sustainable structure," says Hernandez.

Sisters Elizabeth and Naomi sit to eat a meal together at Club One.

"We can do more for the kids because we don’t have to worry about where their food is going to come from. It is a huge help. Because of the Food Depository, we can spend our time doing things like leading programs and creating relationships with the kids. We are very grateful.”

We wouldn’t be able to support programs like Club One and help feed children like Susan and Johana without the help of our supporters. Learn more about how you can donate to make an impact.

In the city of Chicago and across Cook County, there is a struggle that many face daily: affording nutritious food for their families or paying for other critical expenses.

At the Greater Chicago Food Depository, we believe food is a basic human right for all. That means no one should have to choose between buying groceries, paying rent, covering utility bills or affording medications.

Pantry guest visits our partner panty, Chicago Hope.

You don’t have to explain anything to us - we understand. Life’s financial commitments can sometimes feel overwhelming and stressful, forcing our community to think that they need to consider options to get by.

For a lot of Chicago and Cook County residents, those options sometimes lead to sacrificing basic essentials like fresh, nutritious food. We’re here to tell you that giving up food should never feel like an option.

Things are sometimes out of our control. Like a costly auto accident, a job loss or having challenges with finding a safe and reliable place to lay your head. We sometimes get sick unexpectedly and are forced to cover expensive medical costs.

If any of this sounds familiar, know you are not alone and help is available, regardless of your circumstance.

Partners at St. James Wabash food pantry helping neighbor select food.

Free and nutritious food is available for anyone who needs it across our network of more than 800 food pantries and programs in Chicago and Cook County.

If you find yourself making the difficult choice between buying groceries or paying rent or bills, our network is here to help you.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository offers free food without compromise, no strings attached. You can use our find food map to find a food pantry and program near you that works with your schedule.

Some sites also provide food delivery options to help those that lack access to transportation. Other locations also provide prepared meals for anyone who doesn’t have the means to prepare food at home. You won’t be turned away due to your circumstances such as legal status or criminal history.

Neighbor at New Mount Calvary food pantry receiving a bag of fresh produce.

As Chicago’s food bank, we are here to connect our neighbors with food resources based on their needs. Some of our partners and programs provide support with state and federal programs such as SNAP/Link and WIC to help alleviate financial hardships.

In addition to finding healthy food at local pantries, you can learn about these benefit programs from eligibility to enrollment, and determine what best suits your needs.

Every person needs food to be healthy and thrive. If you need help finding food, know that our network of over 800 pantries and programs is here to support you so that you can keep yourself and your family nourished without compromises.

It is a sobering contrast. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Household Food Security Report, more than 44 million people in the United States live in food insecure households, 13 million of whom are children.

Yet every year, while families struggle to put food on their table, we waste 80 million tons of food. According to Feeding America, 38 percent of our nation’s food supply ends up in a landfill or an incinerator.

The Natural Resources Defense Council asserts that the U.S. could feed every food insecure person with just one-third of the food that is wasted each year.

Food banks across the country don’t take statistics like these lightly. For years, we have collected surplus, fresh and edible food from restaurants and food retailers to distribute to families and individuals facing food insecurity through local pantries and other community meal programs.

Above and Beyond's Javi Rodriguez loads up the pantry's new van with rescued food from Jewel-Osco. Photos by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository.

The practice, known as “food rescue” or “food recovery,” provides a crucial emergency food resource while at the same time reducing food waste. The Greater Chicago Food Depository has been rescuing food for our neighbors across Chicago and Cook County since 1986. In 2023, we took the program further, effectively transforming the way we recover edible, unsold food from local grocers.

“Hub and spoke” collaborations

Recognizing that pantry partners have varied capabilities and resources, we introduced a “hub and spoke” model whereby a partner pantry (the hub) collects food from local grocers for themselves and for other food pantries in the neighborhood (the spokes).

To facilitate the collections, the Food Depository provides “hub” partners with a grant to purchase or retrofit a refrigerated vehicle. We also connect our network pantry partners with nearby food retailers, creating strong partnerships that empower local collaboration to address food insecurity, especially in high-need communities.

Our partners rescue quality, unsold food from local stores, including produce and protein.

The collaborative arrangement maximizes resources, supports smaller pantries and reduces food waste. And while some food banks in the country have adopted a “hub and spoke” approach to food rescue, the Food Depository is the first to combine the model with capacity-building grants and support with facilitating community partnerships. The program also exemplifies our work to address the root causes of hunger by directing nutritious food to areas that need it most.

Since incorporating the “hub and spoke” model, the Food Depository and our partner network have increased the amount of food rescued by 30 percent – all of which is redistributed into the community for local families. We currently have 18 “hub and spoke” collaborations serving 38 neighborhoods. Many are in historically disinvested communities with limited access to affordable, nutritious food.

More food for more neighbors

“Food insecurity is definitely still widespread throughout a lot of our communities,” said Ken Cozzi, executive director of Above and Beyond Food Pantry, which serves neighbors in West Garfield Park. Since the pantry opened in 2021, they have seen a steady increase in pantry guests. “There’s always going to be a need. And we want to be able to provide the community with (food).

That’s why, when the opportunity arose to become a Food Depository Community Food Rescue “hub” partner, Cozzi jumped at the chance. He saw it as another way to get additional fresh and shelf-stable food for his growing pantry.

“We try to offer a lot of fresh produce and fresh foods, and bring in protein such as meat, chicken, fish and eggs. It’s what people want,” Cozzi said.

The Food Depository connected Cozzi’s pantry with several nearby retailers, including Jewel-Osco, Target, Aldi and Sam’s Club to rescue food.

“For whatever reason (some food) remains unsold. It could just be a change in packaging or a different SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) number. Instead of discarding the items – which doesn’t make sense to us – we pick them up for our guests and two other neighboring pantries. The two we work with are smaller and they’re not open as often as we are, but that doesn’t mean that the need isn’t there,” explained Cozzi.

A plus for guests and drivers

Brian Carroll values the help he gets from Above and Beyond. As a single dad, he does his best to support his family on a fixed income. “I’m not working right now as I’m dealing with some mental health issues,” he said. “Food stamps run out on the 9^th (of every month), but there’s still more month left,” he said. That’s when he visits Above and Beyond.

“Stuff like this helps,” he said, holding up bags of groceries from the pantry.

Brian Carroll is grateful for the food he receives from Above and Beyond pantry.

Previously, Food Depository drivers collected rescued food from partner restaurants and grocery stores. Sometimes, the items were delivered directly to a pantry. Most of the time, they were brought back to the Food Depository’s warehouse and stored temporarily until pantry partners were able to receive the deliveries.

Empowering pantries to conduct their own food rescue cuts down on unnecessary transportation time, freeing up drivers for other assignments. The model also ensures food products remain fresh.

“At the Food Depository, we are constantly thinking of ways to improve processes and systems," said Joe Rodriguez, vice president of transportation, warehousing and facilities management.

"Just because we’ve been doing food rescue a certain way for years, we are not too proud to admit when operations need to be adjusted for efficiency and maximum impact. It’s what our neighbors and supporters deserve.”

Pantry guests like Teresa Wilson and husband Lamont Wilson are certainly grateful. Even though they both work, they barely earn enough to get by. The couple really felt the pinch last March when their extra pandemic-era SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits were reduced.

Pantry guest Dawanna Johnson appreciates the extra variety the rescued food provides.

“We have 11 grandkids. I’ve put off buying work pants because we want to have food for them when they visit,” said Teresa.

And thanks to innovative programs like Community Food Rescue that provide the necessary resources and relationships to increase food supplies, pantries will remain a reliable lifeline for neighbors like the Wilsons.

When David Flores, 57, retired from the Chicago Fire Department in 2021 after 20+ years of service, he knew he was ready for a new mission. Becoming a Food Depository volunteer allowed him to continue doing what comes naturally to him – serving others.

“I feel so fortunate to be in the position I’m in,” he said. “I’m finally at the place where I have the freedom to spend my time as I choose. I want to keep doing something that is useful, something that gives back to the community.”

Flores had seen the Food Depository trucks drive through his neighborhood, and he knew his wife and son had volunteered with us before, but it wasn’t until his retirement that his journey with the Food Depository officially began. He immediately connected to the mission to end hunger and has been volunteering regularly with us ever since.

“There’s so much to do as a volunteer (at the Food Depository),” Flores said. “I feel like I’m still learning every day, and I want to continue to help where I’m needed.”

Flores regularly participates in repacks at the Food Depository.

Nowadays, you will find Flores at the Food Depository every Tuesday and Thursday morning, where he engages in various roles, from packing boxes and preparing food for delivery at our repacks to harvesting crops with our hydroponics pilot program. Additionally, he has volunteered at events such as the Chicago Stand Down, which provides free resources for veterans in need, where he helps the Food Depository distribute food.

“It’s humbling to be at an event like that,” said Flores. “As a veteran myself, it hurts me to know that there are so many of my fellow vets in need of help. That’s part of what I like about working here (at the Food Depository)."

"It’s opened my eyes to a lot of things and led me to experiences I never envisioned myself doing.”

Flores grew up in Pilsen, a neighborhood on Chicago’s South side. He is one of 12 brothers and sisters. “Things weren’t always so rosy,” he said. “There were times that were hard for us. It’s not easy to provide for 12 kids.”

“It means a lot to now be able to do something like this and know that I’m helping others who might be in the position I was in when I was younger.”

David Flores helps plant herbs in our hydroponics pilot program.

Flores still lives on the South side, and he hopes to keep making a difference in his community by volunteering with the Food Depository. In the future, he wants to expand his range of volunteer activities by engaging in more events like the Stand Down, assisting at more of our partner food distribution sites and possibly volunteering as a delivery driver.

“I really enjoy spending my time here,” said Flores. “It’s a great place to be a part of. I’ve learned a lot and worked with some great people, all while doing something that benefits others, so I’m grateful.”

Volunteers play a crucial role in our mission to end hunger. Join David Flores and the rest of our volunteers and help make a difference for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity across Chicago and Cook County.

“This place doesn’t just fill your stomach,” said Dale Wesley, 44, as he gestured to the Park Café guests eating and chatting around him. “This place gives me a sense of hope – like the community has my back.”

Park Café, the more common name of the soup kitchen run by the Seeds Center of Maple Park, serves a hot meal twice a week to their neighbors in West Pullman. Wesley is one of their grateful regulars.

Due to a recent surgery, he isn’t currently working. But groceries still cost hundreds of dollars a month, he lamented. Park Café helps fill in the gaps, Welsey said, and provides a needed chance to connect with people from the community he’s called home his whole life.

Guests enjoy meals made from scratch. (Photos by Jim Vondruska for the Food Depository.)

Growing Needs

Park Café started decades ago to provide home-cooked meals to under-resourced older adults in the community. During the recession in 2008, when neighbors were losing jobs and homes, the cafe started serving people of all ages.

To help feed additional guests, Park Café partnered with the Food Depository in 2013. Seven years later, COVID-19 created a new wave of need.

Today, 44 percent of West Pullman residents live below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (a measure used to estimate need), meaning they don’t have the resources to cover basic living expenses and are often forced to make impossible tradeoff decisions between purchasing food and paying for housing, health care and other basic necessities.

Pantry coordinator Vivian Lambert has been feeding the community for decades.

“With inflation right after the pandemic, a lot of people never really recovered,” said Vivian Lambert, who runs the soup kitchen. Seeds Center also recently opened a food pantry to help ensure neighbors have enough food throughout the week. “We want to continue to give back, especially to the many working people who don’t have enough food.”

Charmaine J. knows that often-invisible need. She goes to the café when she isn’t working at one of her two jobs. Her children are grown, and she does her best to help support her son and daughter with disabilities. When Charmaine fell on hard times a year ago, she lost her home and is still struggling to save for a security deposit for a new apartment.

“When I come here, I’m hungry. Where I stay is not a home. I don’t have a stove. This helps,” she said. “I sit at work every day and people don’t know I don’t have a home.”

As Charmaine gestured to her full plate of food and the women chatting at her table, she said, “This place means everything to me.”

Community and Dignity

Lambert knows that other guests come to Park Café mainly for a sense of community. “Some are seniors or unemployed or underemployed,” she said. “Some are just lonely. One guest told me that if not for the soup kitchen, she would spend most days alone.”

Guests enjoy the warm community in addition to the hot meal.

Ernest Leggs, a single dad of four who works as a carpenter, understands that need. “You come here not only to get a meal, but to talk with people and engage in community,” he said, tearing up as he talked about the role Park Café plays in his life.

“That really means the world to a lot of people, including myself,” Leggs said.

Head chef Carmelle Ross, 68, is just as passionate about Park Café as the guests. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu at the age of 60, Ross said she loves cooking for others, especially with the items they receive from the Food Depository.

“It’s great for me as a chef because I get to cook with great ingredients, and it’s great for the diners because they get to eat delicious, healthy food.”

Chef Carmelle Ross loves feeding her neighbors.

“With all the help from the Food Depository, we’ve been able to serve even more people and help the community. It’s a beautiful thing," Chef Ross said.

Guests are also encouraged to take meals to go for dinner that night or for family members who can’t attend. Mark Harper, 62, says it means everything “to come socialize” at Park Cafe and to bring a meal home to his ill wife.

“What I love about this place is that they really follow their motto: ‘Dining With Dignity.’ Everybody is treated equally,” said Leggs. “Some people are homeless, some people are barely holding on, some people just need a little extra help, but everybody is treated like family.”

All Chicagoans can agree that the weather is unpredictable. In a single week, you can experience snow, rain and sunshine.

While you can’t always rely on the weather forecast, you can always rely on the Greater Chicago Food Depository and our network of over 800 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other meal programs to have the fresh and healthy food you need near you, conveniently accessible whenever you need it.

Oak Forest community members receiving turkeys.

Our find food map is an interactive and easy-to-use resource that can help you locate nearby pantries and programs. You can filter by location, including address, neighborhood, city or zip code, and other important location features such as languages spoken, types of services available and which days the location is open.

To access these features and more, visit our find food map and click on the “More Filters” button. An easy-to-use pop-up menu will then let you select the various sorting options available to help you best locate the programs and services near you.

No matter your age, sex, gender or ability, know that free food and support is available and conveniently accessible across Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Community member visits a partner pantry in Chicago and receives bag of fresh food.

Without our extensive network of 800 pantries and programs we wouldn’t be able to do what we do. The Food Depository works in partnership with community-based organizations, religious institutions, soup kitchens, shelters and more.

Our partners are located all across Chicago and Cook County, but below are a few of our partners that help us provide food and support. Their goal, like ours, is to make it as easy as possible for anyone in need of food to receive the assistance they need.

Located on Chicago’s northwest side is Iglesia Evangelica Emmanuel, a partner that offers both indoor and outdoor grocery distribution, including curbside pick-up. They provide support in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL).

On the west side of Chicago, Life Impacters Foundation has a pantry that distributes groceries to local individuals in need. This location also offers a soup kitchen, which provides hot prepared meals, available to eat on-site.

Also on the west side of the city, United for Better Living Inc. provides groceries for individuals who reside in their community, as well as tailored food boxes filled with nutritious items specifically for individuals 60 years of age and older.

At Grace and Peace Church on Chicago’s west side, SNAP application assistance is available, as well as monthly food boxes for older adults. This location is also one of many wheelchair-accessible partners, all of which can be found by filtering through our find food map.

We are proud to work with hundreds of partners across Chicago and Cook County. Please visit your nearest pantry if you need assistance.

Outreach efforts at our partner pantry in Chicago.

The Food Depository strives to provide food for anyone who needs it, when they need it.

The breadth of our partner network allows us to serve anyone in need throughout Chicago and Cook County. Whether you’re in Rogers Park or Riverdale, Maywood or Melrose Park, Logan Square or Little Village, you can have peace of mind that fresh, healthy and wholesome food is within reach for anyone who needs help.

So come rain or shine, blizzard or bloom, our partners stand ready to provide support where and how you need it.

Jacqueline G. has called Gage Park home for more than three decades. She lives alone, and due to her multiple illnesses, is unable to work. Jacqueline receives monthly disability and Social Security benefits, but it’s still not enough to afford everyday necessities.

“Between rent, the car, car insurance, life insurance, the things you pay for in life every day, I’m lucky if I end up with maybe 20 bucks in my pocket every month,” she said.

Thankfully, Jacqueline discovered the food pantry at St. Gall Catholic Church, a longtime partner of the Food Depository, and has been visiting ever since.

“This pantry was a godsend,” she said. “This is how I survive.”

St. Gall’s pantry opened its doors to Gage Park residents more than 20 years ago. It now serves 150 households a week. Many of the guests are older adults and, like Jacqueline, struggle to make ends meet on their Social Security benefits.

St. Gall guests wait in line to access the new pantry.

During the pandemic, St. Gall operated as a drive-up pantry, with volunteers distributing bags of pre-packaged food to guests. Pantry staff saw the growing need in their community as an effect of the pandemic. They decided that change was necessary to better serve their community and partnered with the Food Depository to renovate their space.

St. Gall’s pantry reopened its doors in November 2023, and for the first time, pantry guests were able to choose exactly which items they wanted, ensuring that no food went to waste.

"Now they get to pick what they need and don't need,” said pantry coordinator Priscilla Estrada.

“We’re very blessed, it’s been beautiful,” said Reverend Matt Foley, Pastor of St. Gall.

“The Food Depository helped us buy refrigerators and get shelving. The variety of opportunities that they (guests) have now is so wonderful.”

Pantry Coordinator Priscilla Estrada is excited for her community to have access to the new pantry.

Because they serve many Latino neighbors, the pantry tries to provide guests with foods that are frequently used in Latin-American cuisines. "We try to get more beans, chiles, peppers, chicken, all that good stuff," said Estrada.

The Food Depository is committed to ensuring that pantry guests are able to obtain food that is culturally relevant. Pantries like St. Gall can request foods specific to their community's needs in order to provide their guests with items that they enjoy eating and preparing.

Jacqueline gets creative to make the food she chooses stretch. "The last pack of chicken legs (I got here), I made some baked, some fried. I cut some of the legs off and I made chicken stir fry with the rice,” she said. “I made chicken tacos. I can cook!”

Volunteers assist guests in navigating the new food pantry.

The staff and volunteers at St. Gall are excited about the new guest-choice model – and about expanding their distribution from one to two days a week in the near future so they can serve even more neighbors.

“The Greater Chicago Food Depository has allowed us this wonderful gift to give to others,” said Father Foley.

“We’re able to say to people – newly arrived individuals, people that have been here for years, people that are without employment – that they’re able to come here and supplement their tables with wonderful food.”

On a sunny Saturday morning in February, the Food Depository buzzed with energy as 95 members of the Divine Nine sororities and fraternities arrived for the second annual Divine Nine Repack Competition in celebration of Black History Month.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, commonly called the Divine Nine, is composed of nine historically African American fraternities and sororities, or Black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs). The first BGLO, Alpha Phi Alpha, was founded in 1906 at Cornell University as a response to discrimination against Black students within traditionally white Greek organizations.

Within a few decades, the other eight organizations were formed and the Divine Nine was born. Today, the organizations separately and collectively support the common goals of leadership, scholarship, service and social justice.

Members of the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities visit the Food Depository for the second Annual Divine Nine Repack. (Photos by Joshua Taylor for the Food Depository)

Food Depository employees who belong to BGLOs hosted the first Divine Nine repack event last year to mark Black History Month. They invited members of each Divine Nine fraternity and sorority to compete to see which group could repack the most food. With nearly twice as many participants this year, members worked in their respective organizations to repack one of three foods: apples, beans or bread.

“They (the Divine Nine) are here because of their shared goals of service and the goals that overlap with the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s mission, which is to end hunger,” said Jill Rahman, Food Depository chief operating officer and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

“We believe that because of that shared goal, this is a great opportunity for us to partner," Rahman said.

The Food Depository was full of energy as members of the Divine Nine showed off their dance moves.

The sound of each organization’s calls and chants filled the warehouse as the teams worked quickly to repack their respective foods into boxes. Volunteers, many dressed from head to toe in their fraternity or sorority’s colors, often broke into singing, dancing and enthusiastically shouting their calls and chants.

“This is a great event,” said Steve Ross, member of Phi Beta Sigma.

“This is our second year attending and we are just so excited to participate in friendly competition and ultimately help the Greater Chicago Food Depository to get this food out to people."

The volunteers worked hard until the last second of the competition. Then they turned up the music and danced while warehouse staff counted the boxes to determine the winner: Zeta Phi Beta.

All together, the volunteers from the Divine Nine sororities and fraternities packed 390 boxes, or 26,452 pounds of food, all of which was distributed to our partner food pantries, soup kitchens and other programs in the days following the event. Their hard work, camaraderie and unmatched energy made the day memorable for all involved.

Members of Zeta Phi Beta sorority celebrate their victory.

“This event is one of the most fun days of the year,” said Alpha Kappa Alpha member Monique Batteast. “I am so proud to be a part of the Divine Nine, and I am proud of all the people who came out today to serve their community in honor of Black History Month.”

As Darriel Anderson participated in the Food Depository’s Food Equity Ambassador program over the past year, she realized one of the most valuable tools in her work to help end hunger – her voice.

“One of my major takeaways is that every voice matters,” said Anderson, who for the past ten years has overseen the food pantry at Circle Urban Ministries in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Anderson shared her insights at a recent gathering to celebrate the graduation of the second cohort of Food Equity Ambassadors. The Food Depository launched the Food Equity Ambassador program two years ago to deepen the advocacy skills of our partner network.

2023 Food Equity Ambassadors share their learnings with Food Depository staff and board members.

At monthly meetings throughout 2023, the five ambassadors received message training, learned how key legislation impacts their work and community, and received tips on how to connect with elected officials.

As part of the program, Anderson traveled to Springfield, Illinois, for the Food Depository’s Lobby Day, and to Washington, D.C., for a Feeding America conference. In both cities, she met with elected officials to share her perspective.

“Those trips empowered me to know that my lived experience (with food insecurity), work experience and the voice of the neighbors I serve matter,” Anderson said.

For Sophie Milam, the Food Depository’s vice president of policy and advocacy, and the rest of her team, these words were a mark of success for the Food Equity Ambassador program – and for the movement to end hunger. “Advocacy starts with awareness. People don’t engage on an issue if they don’t know about it or understand it,” Milam said.

From left, Food Equity Ambassadors Wendy Daniels, Darriel Anderson and Michael DeMeyer.

Michael DeMeyer, food drive coordinator with Faith Feeds (formerly All Saints) food pantry in Palatine, leveraged his learnings as a Food Equity Ambassador to host an event for Hunger Action Month in September. His pantry partnered with local libraries to collect food before the event, and announced their name change at the gathering, reflecting their new partnership with two local churches.

“We’ve been building mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations and local officials,” DeMeyer said.

He added that those officials now have a trusted contact when they want to learn about or address food insecurity in their community.

Wendy Daniels, director of food services at Breakthrough Urban Ministries in East Garfield Park, shared how her team has worked to invite local officials to their pantry to see the need in the community and how they are working to alleviate hunger.

The Breakthrough staff connects neighbors to public assistance programs, striving to overcome common barriers, such as lack of required documentation or difficulty securing transportation to application offices. Daniels makes sure the officials see these realities as well.

“I’m a food equity ambassador for me, my pantry and my community,” Daniels said.

Despite the challenges, she says the work to end hunger in the community is worth it. “I get to do this work. I get to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.”

Learn more about the Food Depository's advocacy work and how you can raise your voice to help end hunger. 

Ernest Leggs is a fourth-generation resident of Chicago’s historic West Pullman neighborhood, where he works as a carpenter and raises three teenagers as a single father. At times, it’s a challenge to provide enough food for his family.

“Those are growing kids,” he said. “They eat so much; they eat more than I do.”

Leggs, 54, has a new source for help with feeding his family: the Seeds Center of Maple Park’s new food pantry.

Ernest Leggs is grateful for the food he's received from the new pantry (Photos by Jim Vondruska for the Food Depository).

Five years ago, Leggs visited the Seeds Center for the first time, having heard about it through a neighbor. At the time, he went to get a meal from the Park Café, their soup kitchen and main source of service to the community for the past ten years. Leggs now visits the café regularly.

“You come here not only to get a meal, but to talk with people and engage in community. That really means the world to a lot of people, including myself,” said Leggs.

After providing hot meals for their community for 10 years, the Seeds Center saw the need to do more to help their neighbors access nutritious food. In November of 2023, the Seeds Center celebrated the grand opening of their food pantry.

The Seeds Center food pantry aims to provide healthy food options to their community.

In their first week, they served 50 households. As the word gets out, the pantry continues to expand their reach every week.

Now, community members can get a hot meal at the Park Café, spend some time socializing, and bring home shelf-stable goods and fresh produce from the food pantry, all in one trip. “The pantry has been very helpful so far,” said Leggs.

“Last month was my birthday, and I wanted to have some family over to celebrate but I didn’t think I could afford to buy enough food for everyone. I came to the pantry, and I was able to get enough food to cook for my family on my birthday. That was really great.”

Pantry-goer Gwendolyn Traylor, 87, has been visiting the Park Café for two years. When she heard that the Seeds Center was opening a pantry, Traylor got excited for the additional impact on the community.

“I’m a senior and I’ve been retired for 25 years,” she said. “Any bit of help makes my life easier.”

A volunteer helps Gwendolyn Traylor pick out foods to take home from the pantry.

Her favorite thing about going to the Seeds Center is that for her, it’s an outing. She enjoys conversing with her friends when she’s there, and she has even met new friends.

“The beautiful thing about the Seeds Center is that anyone can come here,” she said. “There’s so much love.”

Pantry and soup kitchen coordinator Vivian Lambert said that through their partnership with the Food Depository, the Seeds Center is able to offer a wide variety of healthy foods to their guests. She enjoys introducing people to food they might not normally eat – such as lentils or split peas.

Vivian Lambert is excited about the new food pantry and its potential impact on her community.

“Response to the pantry has been very, very good,” she said. “It’s a dignified atmosphere and people can choose what they want.” Lambert has seen the positive impact the soup kitchen has had on the community and hopes the new food pantry will have the same effect.

“It makes my life so fulfilling. At the end of the day, I know I helped somebody,” Lambert said. “I can go on knowing I helped put a smile on someone’s face.”

This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, hundreds of people from across Chicago made their way to the Food Depository in below-zero-degree weather to honor the legacy of Dr. King by volunteering to help their neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

Volunteers from Chicago-based organizations Cubs Charities, the Obama Foundation, and the Magnificent Mile Chapter of Jack and Jill of America came together at the Food Depository to repackage apples and pinto beans into family-size portions. These were delivered in the following days to our partner food pantries, soup kitchens and other meal programs to distribute to families and individuals.

For the second year in a row, Cubs Charities celebrated MLK Day of Service by bringing their Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) teams to the Food Depository to reinforce to the young players the values of teamwork and civic engagement.

Cubs RBI players work together with their teammates to feed their neighbors.

The RBI Program is a youth outreach program providing athletes from inner cities with access to participate in free baseball and softball travel teams. They work to ensure the success of the players, not only through sport, but through academic achievement, teamwork, and giving back to their communities.

“We’re all here because we want to give back,” said RBI player Anthony Visinaiz, 16, who has been with the team for three years.

“You can feel Dr. King’s presence here because you see all these people of different races and ethnicities coming together as family and being able to give back to the community.”

Cubs Charities has been a partner of the Food Depository since 2020, when Wrigley Field was transformed into a food pantry during the early days of the pandemic. Since then, the group has focused on food insecurity, generously contributing more than 1,789 hours of service, 160,000 meals and several donations to help ensure none of their neighbors go hungry.

Also returning to roll up their sleeves was the Obama Foundation, who has inspired supporters to participate in repacks with the Food Depository since 2019. This year, led by CEO Valerie Jarrett, the Obama Foundation rallied over 100 supporters, including volunteers from ComEd, Northern Trust and more to lend a helping hand.

Food Depository CEO, Kate Maehr, with Michael Strautmanis and Valerie Jarrett from the Obama Foundation.

Wanting to inspire the younger generation of leaders, the Obama Foundation invited guests to bring their children, to encourage in them the value of giving back to their communities.

“It didn’t matter what anybody looked like, (Dr. King) was still there for them and uplifted them,” said volunteer Idalia Vivar. “We’re here with our families, giving back to the community because that’s what it’s all about.”

Also in attendance were members of the Magnificent Mile chapter of Jack and Jill of America, an organization of mothers with children ages 2-19, dedicated to nurturing future African-American leaders. Mothers brought their children to the Food Depository to embrace the organization’s values of volunteer service and civic duty.

Makenzie Ward, 11, was one of those children. She was excited to participate in the repacking activities. “It’s great that a lot of people care about Martin Luther King and the justice and peace that he gave the world,” she said. “I feel really good that we’re giving back to the community in his honor.”

Makenzie Ward was grateful to be honoring the legacy of Dr. King.

The Food Depository is incredibly grateful to the nearly 300 volunteers who braved the cold to participate in this year’s special Day of Service repack. In total, the volunteers from all three groups packed 36,792 pounds of food, or the equivalent of 30,660 meals, that have been delivered to our partner pantries, soup kitchens and other meal programs.

Their contributions are already making an impact in our communities, helping to ensure that our neighbors throughout Chicago and Cook County get the nourishment they need.

Member of Jack and Jill work hard to repack beans that will be distributed to neighbors.

In the words of Dr. King: “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” We’re grateful to these volunteers for choosing to honor Dr. King by joining us to serve our neighbors and working toward a greater, hunger-free Chicago.

When you look at the new mural on the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s headquarters, artist Mario Mena hopes you notice the “magic” flowing through it.

The “magic” he describes is represented as a golden glow, spreading across the length of the mural. “That glow is meant to represent magic because I see food as magic,” Mena said.

“What makes food amazing is the love and the magic that is put into it. The way food brings people together is magic.”

Mena, a local artist, was commissioned by the Food Depository to create the mural for the new building expansion, to showcase the vibrancy of the greater Southwest side community and the talent of local artists. In doing so, we wanted to engage an artist with ties to the surrounding neighborhood.

Artist Mario Mena, in front of one of his many murals across Chicago.

Mena grew up in nearby Brighton Park and attended Curie High School just down the street from the Food Depository, where he developed his love of art. He immigrated to California from Mexico with his parents when he was just two years old, and they moved to Chicago five years later. His story is not unlike that of many Chicagoans, whose families came to the city for a better life.

Mena has worked for years to beautify the city through murals, and is now a teaching artist, working with kids on the Southwest side through Yollocalli Arts Reach, a youth arts program. Given his ties to the neighborhood the Food Depository has called home for 40 years, Mena was the perfect artist for this opportunity.

When considering the prompt, “Chicago’s Community Kitchens,” Mena wanted to find a way to represent not only his experience of Chicago, but Chicago as a whole.

The center panel of Mena's design, featuring his signature vibrant, colorful style.

He started at the center of the design, which features a woman stirring what he calls a “melting pot,” a nod to Chicago’s reputation as a melting pot of different cultures, languages and ethnicities.

“For me it could represent atole, champurrado or hot cocoa,” he says, referencing traditional Mexican drinks, “but it could also represent many different things to everybody else in the city of Chicago.”

Starting from the melting pot, the “magic” glow extends all the way to the outer left and right panels, which represent two different sides of Chicago.

The right side of Mena's mural, featuring the Chicago skyline.

The right side shows Chicago’s iconic skyline and represents the side of Chicago that is known to the world. “Everyone in Chicago knows the skyline. It’s iconic – it’s something everyone in the city can have pride in,” says Mena.

The left side of the mural depicts a row of bungalows, a building style that rose to popularity in Chicago in the early 20th century as a way for the city’s middle- and working-class people to own a single-family home. “They represent the side of Chicago not everyone gets to see,” Mena says.

The left side of Mena's mural, featuring the traditional Southwest side bungalows.

“The bungalow, to me, is the best representation of the Southwest side. Growing up, we all lived in bungalows. It didn’t matter what race you were. We were all blue-collar workers – Polish, South American, Mexican – but we all had that in common. When I travel somewhere and I come back, and I see the rows of bungalows as I’m flying back to Midway, I know I’m home.”

Mena hopes his mural will resonate with anyone who comes across it.

“I wanted to create something beautiful and flowing. When people see the design and all the little symbols, I hope they feel represented and like somebody thought about them,” he said.

His mural will live on the front-facing façade of the Food Depository’s headquarters for the next year, when the Food Depository will select another artist to create a new mural, continuing the tradition of capturing the essence of Chicago's food culture through the lens of local artists.

Watch Mario explain his work in his own words:

It’s the perfect time to set new goals for the year ahead.

To reach these goals, it takes energy. It takes fuel. It takes food: a universal, basic human need. Everyone deserves access to fresh and healthy food to help them achieve whatever they set out to accomplish this year.

A community member receives food at Harmony Community Baptist Church’s food pantry.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository and our network of food pantries and programs are here to provide free food for anyone who needs it, with no strings attached, so you don’t have to worry about where your next meal will come from.

With over 800 food pantries and programs across Chicago and Cook County, help is all around, and finding a location is easy using our find food map.

This wide network offers a variety of resources including fresh produce, dairy, meat and packaged foods, so you can prepare meals that are nourishing for you and your family.

We even have a recipe library to help you find new ways to prepare meals with ingredients commonly found at our local food pantries.

Our partners are here to provide you with food and support.

Distributing healthy food is central to our mission. Early this year, we’ll be completing our Nourish Project and increasing access to healthy, prepared meals. These made-from-scratch meals will be distributed to priority populations, including families served by pantries, opportunity youth (ages 16 to 24 who are neither enrolled in school or work), people experiencing a housing crisis, and individuals engaged in workforce development programs.

Access to nutritious prepared meals helps build healthier communities, especially among older generations and people with disabilities who may experience greater challenges in preparing food.

Food being distributed by our partners at the Beyond Hunger Food Outreach Program.

The new year is also a good time to check if you are eligible for federal nutrition benefits, including SNAP. Our team is here to help answer questions and connect you to programs that can boost your grocery budget. Learn about the programs available and find benefits that suit your needs.

Fresh and healthy food is distributed across our network of partners.

No matter what your hopes and goals are for this new year, we want to make sure you’ve got the peace of mind, energy and resources to make them happen.

Our local pantries and programs are here to provide fresh and nutritious food to fuel your family for the year ahead. For the Food Depository, making sure our neighbors have the support to reach their fullest potential is and continues to be our main goal.

Find free food at a pantry or program near you today.

Dawanna Johnson, 44, plans to host about 20 family members for Christmas this year, thanks in no small part to the Above and Beyond Free Food Pantry in West Garfield Park.

After gushing about the holiday food she received from the pantry at Thanksgiving – including a whole turkey, fresh produce, and other fixings – Johnson’s family decided she should host Christmas, an “assignment” she was happy to accept.

Johnson, who lives with her 18-year-old son, says there are limited options for grocery shopping in their community. And even if there were more options, the pair would struggle to afford groceries on his paychecks and her disability benefits, especially considering they often care for Johnson’s two godchildren, ages 5 and newborn.

Dawanna Johnson leaves Above and Beyond with food for her family – and their Christmas meal. Photos by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository.

“I’m so happy to come here,” Johnson said of Above and Beyond before carrying her groceries to a nearby bus stop. She’s excited to share the ham and cheesecake she selected with her family at Christmas.

“I so appreciate it. And my family does too.”

Elevated needs

Johnson is one of 650 neighbors who registered for holiday food at Above and Beyond, and one of the 140,000 households in Chicago and Cook County that will receive a holiday meal from the Food Depository this season. Above and Beyond’s three holiday food distributions in December are in addition to their regular pantry hours, when they consistently serve more than 100 guests six days a week.

The pantry is part of Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center, which offers a wide array of social services on the city’s west side. Their board of directors launched the pantry in February 2021, in partnership with the Food Depository. “COVID was the impetus,” said Ken Cozzi, executive director of the pantry.

But like most food-access partners in Chicago and Cook County, they haven’t seen their neighbors’ needs decrease since the pandemic, due to inflation, elevated food prices, and the rollback of vital pandemic-era public assistance programs.

Above and Beyond pantry has seen needs rise since they launched during the pandemic.

As a result of recent mounting challenges, more and more families are turning to food pantries for the first time. In fact, the Food Depository’s network of partner food pantries served 28 percent more guests in October than the same month last year – a sobering reminder that hunger didn’t diminish with the pandemic.

To meet the increased need, Above and Beyond has added additional distribution days to their schedule, including regular Saturday hours to accommodate those who work during the week, like Barbara Sturkey.

A big help

On a recent Monday, Barbara, 60, and her sister Linda, 58, were the first in line at Above and Beyond, arriving at 9:00 a.m. for the noon distribution. Barbara was there to get food for herself, her fiancé and her two grandkids, ages 10 and 5, who they often care for. Though Barbara and her fiancé both work, she said, “It’s not enough to pay for groceries, rent and gas.”

Barbara and Linda Sturkey say the pantry is a big help.

Barbara got excited when she saw cans of spaghetti rings on a shelf, explaining that her grandkids love them. She also picked up a bag of marshmallows for the s’mores they like to make together on their stovetop. Her sister Linda, who doesn’t have a car, selected items for making soup, saying she’s stocking up for winter, when it’s harder to get out.

“This is a big help,” Barbara said, selecting a sweet potato pie for her family’s Christmas meal. “We get a lot of stuff here we wouldn’t be able to have otherwise.”

Beyond the holidays

Like Barbara, Brian Carroll is grateful for the pantry at the holidays – and well beyond. The single dad to two kids, ages 11 and 15, does his best to support his family on a fixed income.

“I’m not working right now as I’m dealing with some mental health issues,” he said. “Food stamps run out on the 9^th, but there’s still more month left,” he said. That’s when he visits Above and Beyond. “Stuff like this helps,” he said, holding up bags of groceries from the pantry, including a ham he’s saving for Christmas day.

Brain Carroll is grateful the pantry helps him and his kids have enough food for the month.

About a week later, pantry guests received an extra holiday treat thanks to a partnership between the Food Depository and Timberland. Through their “Timbs the Season” program, Timberland donated 200 new pairs of their Original Timberland Boots, which several of their staff members distributed to the pantry guests in addition to helping with the food distribution.

The Food Depository is grateful to provide our partner pantries with extra holiday foods this time of year, when many of our neighbors gather with family and friends for a celebratory meal. And we are equally grateful that our generous donors and dedicated partners are there long after the decorations have been put away, still working to create a hunger-free community.

“It’s a blessing to have a place like this, where people can receive help when they need it,” said Jacqueline Maxson, 60, as she shopped through the aisles at the Hattie B. Williams food pantry in Oak Forest. She was selecting everyday essentials and special holiday favorites at the pantry’s annual holiday food distribution.

Though this was only Maxson’s second visit, the pantry has already had a big impact on her life. Maxson recently had a stroke, which has prevented her from working for several weeks.

“This is a lot of help. I have many people to feed, and this pantry has made that easier for me,” she said, gesturing toward her two grandchildren, Aaliyah, 9, and Kamarion, 7, for whom she is a caretaker.

“I know these kids can’t wait to eat this food,” she said. “I’m just so grateful.”

A volunteer helps Maxson's granddaughter, Aaliyah, pick out food for their family. (Photos by Abel Uribe for the Food Depository)

This holiday season, the Food Depository will distribute over 980,000 pounds of holiday food to partner locations like the Hattie B. Williams pantry. Motivated by the belief that everyone deserves to enjoy a festive meal with their loved ones, we will provide approximately 140,000 households in Chicago and Cook County with a holiday meal this season.

The specialty holiday foods include turkeys, hams, whole chickens, gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce, and are in addition to items the Food Depository distributes year-round, like green beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots and onions, which are also used in holiday meals.

Sisters, Twala Brooks and Catalina Berry, bring home a turkey each to share with their families.

“Because of this food pantry, we eat good,” said Twala Brooks, 45, who attended Hattie B.’s holiday food distribution with her son, Keigan, 12, and her sister, Catalina. “It means everything to us,” she said.

Twala has been visiting the pantry since 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Because of Hattie B., my son was able to eat good during COVID, when it was hard to put food on the table,” she said.

The Hattie B. pantry has been feeding people in their south-suburban community since 1991, when their namesake, the late Hattie B. Williams, saw a need in the community and decided to do something about it. Initially, she operated the pantry in a 100-square-foot classroom at a church in South Holland, before relocating to Oak Forest.

Annie Hill stands outside the pantry with a van donated to Hattie B. by the Food Depository so they can rescue quality, surplus food from local grocery stores.

Pantry coordinator Annie Hill has led the pantry since 2014, when her sister, Hattie B., passed away. “There is a huge need for this food pantry in our community,” Hill said.

On average, the pantry serves 778 households a month, or 2,235 individuals. More than 60 percent of the people they serve come from nearby Robbins, Harvey, Calumet Park, Dixmoor, Dolton and Ford Heights, which are some of the communities with the highest food insecurity rates in the Chicago area.

In 2019, a powerful storm devastated almost half of Oak Forest, including the Hattie B. pantry. Thanks to private funding and support from the Food Depository, Hattie B. was able to construct a brand-new building at the same Oak Forest location, growing over nine times in size from the original building. The pantry recently celebrated its official reopening.

Annie Hill speaks at Hattie B.'s grand reopening.

“It’s going to help so many people,” Betty Seaton, 78, said of the new 3,660-square-foot building. “It’s made a big difference already because it is able to accommodate more people and get more food into the community.”

Seaton, a retired hospice nurse living on a fixed income, has been visiting the pantry since its founding in 1991. “It’s a blessing to have this place. It is truly a blessing,” she said.

Betty Seaton is grateful for the food she received at Hattie B.'s holiday food distribution.

“People from all walks of life come to this pantry, from all different situations. Everybody is welcome here at Hattie B.,” said Hill. “We don’t judge people here; we help people. We do it because we love people.”

“I don’t know what I’d do if this place didn’t exist,” Charlotte Cielocha said while standing in the food pantry she’s visited nearly every Thursday for the past five years.

Cielocha, 62, a third-generation Chicagoan, has lived on the city’s northwest side her entire life. Every Thursday she travels to nearby Logan Square to visit Chicago Hope, a food pantry run by Armitage Baptist Church in partnership with the Food Depository.

Charlotte Cielocha poses with a Chicago Hope volunteer.

One of the things that keeps Cielocha returning week after week is the care and assistance she receives from the staff. “The people are really nice and helpful here,” she says. “If you don’t have your own cart, they’ll let you use one of theirs and help you take the food to your car. They put it in bags for you and make it easy for us older folks.”

Cielocha is unable to work due to a physical disability, so she and her husband do their best to survive on his income.

“It’s hard right now with inflation and food stamps being cut. Times are getting really bad, not just for us, but for everyone."

"The prices at the grocery store are only getting higher and higher, and I don’t know how people are going to survive it,” she said, adding her appreciation for the food she receives at Chicago Hope. “I’m very thankful for them.”

Maggie Jordan works the front desk at Chicago Hope.

“Inflation and rising costs of living have contributed to the growing number of people we see each week,” said pantry coordinator Maggie Jordan. “We used to see mainly single people and older adults. Now we see more families and younger people coming in than ever.”

Jordan, 71, began as a volunteer with Chicago Hope in 2009. Just one year later, when the pantry needed a full-time coordinator, she stepped into the role and has devoted her life to Chicago Hope ever since.

“We get people from all walks of life in this pantry,” Jordan said. “Everybody needs help at some point, and we are a place where anyone can come to get help when they need it.”

Maggie Jordan and her fellow volunteer check in a neighbor to the pantry.

Jordan knows firsthand what it feels like to experience food insecurity. Shortly before she started volunteering with Chicago Hope, she visited the pantry to get some much-needed food. She was a single mom, struggling to make ends meet. With nowhere else to turn for help, she went to Chicago Hope. “I never forgot how it felt to receive generosity from when I needed it most,” she said.

Today, in partnership with the Food Depository, Chicago Hope serves an average of 180-190 people experiencing food insecurity each week. The number of guests they serve nearly tripled during the pandemic, and it has not gone down since. In 2015, they moved into their current location, which doubled their space to house refrigeration and dry storage, allowing them to increase their capacity. As need grows, they hope to keep expanding in the near future.

Fresh produce provided by the Food Depository is distributed every week at Chicago Hope.

Jordan knows she can’t end hunger on the North Side by herself. “The Food Depository’s support means everything to us,” she said. “We depend on the resources that they provide to run our pantry. We’re a small pantry; we don’t have corporate sponsors. What we have is hardworking volunteers and the support of the Food Depository. We would not be able to do what we do without them.”

Ray Lavko, 11, is an inquisitive kid. So last year, when he saw a Food Depository mailing asking for donations to help neighbors experiencing food insecurity, he peppered his mom, Alexis, with questions.

“He asked me, ‘Why don’t people have enough to eat? How can we help them? Where does this money go?’” Alexis said. After a conversation about food insecurity, Ray disappeared into his bedroom and emerged minutes later with a fistful of dollars. It was all the money he had, $180 he’d received from his grandparents and other relatives for birthdays and Christmases. He wanted to donate all of it to the Food Depository.

Ray and his mom, Alexis, with Ray’s cash box and the book where he records all the money he receives and donates.

Alexis was moved by her son’s compassion, but not surprised. “He’s always been concerned about people who don’t have enough to eat or a place to live,” she said.

During the pandemic, tent encampments popped up near their home, prompting Ray to ask questions about the circumstances that led to people being unhoused. At Ray’s suggestion, the family – including dad, Ray, and brother, Theo, 7 – packed bags with food, water and a little money to give to these neighbors.

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

Knowing their son’s big heart, Ray and Alexis also weren’t surprised last Thanksgiving that Ray was disappointed he couldn’t provide even more meals with his donation to the Food Depository. The couple agreed to match their son’s donation and suggested they ask friends and family to contribute as well.

Within weeks they’d raised enough to donate $800 to the Food Depository. It was the equivalent of 2,400 meals for older adults on fixed incomes, working families struggling to make ends meet and children around Ray’s age, who are especially vulnerable to food insecurity. Ray was thrilled.

Alexis volunteers to repack food at the Food Depository with her coworkers at Epsilon Economics.

In the months leading up to Thanksgiving this year, the family started noticing tents around the city housing asylum-seeking new arrivals from the southern U.S. border. Ray asked his parents questions about where the people would live and how they would eat, especially once the temperatures dropped. With the needs so evident, they decided to raise funds to donate to the Food Depository again this holiday season.

The family launched the fundraiser just before Giving Tuesday (November 28) and plan to wrap it up before Christmas. This year Ray hoped to raise enough to donate $1,000 to the Food Depository. With our bulk buying power, that’s equivalent to 3,000 meals. Ray has surpassed that goal already and has been elated to watch the total rise.

Ray proudly sports his Food Depository swag.

“We are so proud of Ray and his concern for the welfare of others,” Alexis said, adding that caring for those in need has been a value in the family for generations.

Husband Ray adds, “He wants to run for president so he can make sure everyone has a home and enough to eat. He has big plans to change the world.”

The Food Depository is grateful Ray has started that world change by partnering with us to help create a hunger-free community.

Be like Ray and start your own virtual food drive fundraiser!

Watch NBC5 Chicago interview Ray.

Vastina Nyiraguhirwa, 57, has been passionate about cooking since she owned a farming business with her late husband in the Congo, her home country. She now lives in Rogers Park, a block away from the Howard and Evanston Community Center (HECC), whose food shelf helps meet her family’s needs – and allows Vastina to enjoy her passion once again.

“I love to cook, I cook every day,” she said. “(The food pantry) gives me beans, oranges, and potatoes, which I love. They are foods we eat a lot in my country.”

Guests wait in line outside the Howard and Evanston Community Center pantry.

Vastina and her seven children fled the war in their country in 2008. After living in a refugee camp in Uganda for eight years, they immigrated to Chicago.

“It was very hard to come here,” she said. “But I wanted a better life for myself and for my kids.” Shortly after arriving in Chicago, she discovered the HECC, where she has built a community for herself. 

Finding help and food in Rogers Park, Chicago

The HECC is located in Rogers Park, one of Chicago’s most ethnically and culturally diverse neighborhoods. The people the food shelf serves come from 44 different countries and speak 41 languages. Vastina first visited the HECC to enroll in English classes, one of the many services they offer. There, she learned about their weekly food pantry, which she has been visiting regularly ever since. Healthy food options are readily available at the Howard and Evanston Community Center pantry.

Healthy food options are readily available at the HECC pantry.

“This food helps me because I am sick and cannot work, so it’s hard to find the money sometimes to buy food,” she said. “I am very thankful for the food I get here. It’s healthy and of good quality.”

As a longtime resident, Vastina has become a well-known figure in her community. She refers recent immigrants and refugees that she meets to the HECC and has become a guide to them over the years. With her knowledge of seven languages, she is able to communicate with recent immigrants and help connect them to resources where they can find help.

“Everybody knows me here,” she said of the food pantry. “This is my home.”

The Howard and Evanston Community Center, with its roots tracing back to 1967, stands as a testament to the power of community. It was founded as a food pantry in partnership with the Food Depository by parishioners from St. Jerome Roman Catholic Church. The food shelf was started in response to the needs of newly arrived immigrants and has been a lifeline for countless people arriving in Rogers Park and Evanston ever since.
Silvina Mammani assists pantry guest Daniel Szetela.

Silvina Mammani assists pantry guest Daniel Szetela.

Silvina Mammani, director of the food pantry, started working at the HECC in 1994. She appreciates the diverse needs of the community they serve and is grateful to the Food Depository for their intentionality in meeting the needs of their guests.

"The Food Depository lets us request food which is great because we get to ask our clients what they like to eat, and we request those foods for them," she said. "People from different cultures have different dietary needs, so it is very helpful for them."

“I am grateful for the Food Depository because I noticed how they were growing according to the needs of the diverse communities, and I appreciate the effort they put into providing food for people.”

Mammani emphasizes the need for food pantries in a time of elevated food prices.

“People are here because they are looking for a better way to live – better opportunity for their families. Oftentimes, people tell me that if they didn’t have this food, they wouldn’t be able to afford their medication. Food pantries are a necessity.”

The Howard and Evanston Community Center continues to serve as a beacon of hope for newcomers, offering them not just food but a sense of belonging.

“Working here, you have the opportunity to meet new faces every day,” says Mammani. “If you see people entering with a frown on their face and leaving with a smile, that’s the greatest feeling. That’s what has kept me here for 29 years.”

With winter around the corner, it’s time to ring in the season of giving and gratitude.

For weeks now, our Chicago community has been looking forward to sharing a meal and reflecting on what (or who) they are most thankful for.

For some of our neighbors, however, a heart-healthy holiday meal will be a little bit harder to come by. That’s why, whether it’s due to lack of income, family crises, or just simply unforeseen life-changing circumstances, it’s important to know that food assistance is available to anyone that needs it this season.

Our network of partners take pride in giving back and sharing with those who sometimes need a little bit of help. We all turn to friends and our support systems from time to time, so why not turn to us?

This year and every year, we’re grateful to each person who trusts in us to help provide food, hope and comfort during the season. Here are some of the ways we serve those who are looking for some extra support because we believe food is a basic human right.

Volunteer distributes onions and potatoes at a food pantry.

How We Serve Our Community with Food Now

It all starts with food sourcing, pure and simple. The Food Depository is the hub: sourcing, inspecting and preparing fresh, nutritious and culturally-relevant foods assessed for quality and safety.

From there, we distribute food to our network of more than 800 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other meal programs in the city and Cook County suburbs. We’re truly grateful to have several fantastic partners who are available to serve free food throughout Chicago and Cook County.

The best part is that finding a local pantry is easy and simple! Within our find food map, anyone in need can access detailed pantry information including hours of operation, languages spoken and programs available. It’s never been more convenient to map out and visit a nearby pantry location.

How We’ll Serve Our Community in the Future

Our Nourish Project – an initiative nearing completion in early 2024 – will aim to further address food inequities by increasing the availability of healthy prepared meals.

A prepared meal distribution at a partner food pantry.

Our goal for the Nourish Project is to serve up to 10,000 prepared meals per day, coming out to about 2.5 million prepared meals per year. Those meals will be distributed to pantries, opportunity youth, people experiencing a housing crisis, and individuals taking part in workforce development programs.

A family picking out food in a food pantry in our network.

With the season of giving upon us, it’s important for us to give the gift of food and serve our neighbors who need it.

Whether you or someone who you know is facing food insecurity, please know we are available and ready to help with free food throughout Chicago and Cook County.

Connecting our neighbors with healthy food isn’t just about the meals themselves. It’s about uplifting everyone in the Chicagoland area and giving them one more reason to celebrate during this season of giving and gratitude. Let us serve you this season and find free food at a pantry near you.

When he was just 18 years old, Marvin Ware joined the Navy as a cook, and spent the next 15 years preparing meals for 500 people every day. “Before that, I was cooking for seven younger brothers and sisters. I was born knowing how to cook,” said Ware, now 61.

Today, he loves to prepare meals for his family and considers his specialties chili beans and hot wings. Ware lives at Hope Manor II, a subsidized housing development for veterans in Englewood, and one of the Food Depository’s many partner locations.

Hope Manor II's activity room, where veterans attend monthly cooking classes.

Every month, we provide 90 Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) boxes to the residents who qualify, part of an FDA program for low-income older adults. Each box contains shelf-stable foods, such as pasta or rice, canned vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, oatmeal or other cereal, dry milk and canned meat. The boxes help provide for older adults who are struggling to support themselves on a fixed income.

“The veterans love these boxes,” said Lauren Hightower, Client Support Service Coordinator at Hope Manor II. “It really helps them.”

About a year ago, after noticing that many of the veterans didn’t know how to cook, Hightower began teaching a monthly cooking class using the food from the boxes. She buys any additional ingredients, such as spices, at a local dollar store. So far, she’s taught her students how to make salmon fried rice, chicken noodle soup and hamburger mac and cheese.

Lauren Hightower teaches her monthly cooking class to veterans, using our CSFP boxes.

“I started showing them basic, quick meals, and healthier options. It’s really nice to see them enjoy it,” Hightower said. “They feel proud of themselves because they put work into making the meal come together.”

For her, the cooking class is a small way of giving thanks to the veterans. “It feels good to give back,” she said.

“I like that I found a way to help them feel thought about and like they still matter, and that their service still matters.”

Ware feels that appreciation and says the classes make him feel seen and cared about. “It makes the heart stronger,” he said of the class. “When you give a little love, it just blooms and it’s like a ripple, it just keeps going.”

Veteran Bryan Roebuck sits in the audience, observing Hightower's cooking demo.

Currently, more than 12,000 veterans in Cook County live below the poverty line. To help meet their needs, the Food Depository provides food boxes to older veterans, partners with the food pantry at Edward Hines VA hospital and attends local Standdown events, where we provide non-perishable foods and produce to veterans.

“I’m hoping that a lot of veterans get taken care of beside myself,” Ware said. “We’re the backbone of this country. We help ensure that freedom is free.”

2010 was a challenging year for Ravenswood resident Lisa Griffin. After suffering a stroke, tragically losing her son and having to retire from a job that she loved as a nursing assistant, Griffin finally had to admit she needed help. That’s when she first walked through the doors of her local food pantry, Common Pantry.

Since then, she visits the pantry occasionally and takes comfort in knowing that it’s there whenever she experiences financial hardship. However, lately, she says her visits have become more frequent.

Lisa Griffin says she finds relief at Common Pantry. Photos by Jamie Kelter Davis for the Food Depository.

“Everything costs more now. I feel like I cannot breathe!” says Griffin, 84. She says her anxiety levels rise when her Social Security retirement benefits are depleted and she still has a week before her next check arrives. The pantry brings her relief.

“I’m very happy to have this place,” she says.

Wendy Garcia, 51, agrees. Every month, she visits Common Pantry in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood to pick up food to feed herself, her daughter and three grandchildren who live with her. Garcia has been visiting the pantry for about five years, after a hand injury ended her ability to continue working.

She receives $250 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits a month, which she describes as “not enough.”

“I can go shopping two times only with this. It’s really hard,” she says. The items she picks up at the pantry help her make ends meet – something that has become increasingly more difficult over the last year due to inflation, rising food prices and the expiration of several public assistance programs that were introduced to help people weather the pandemic. Despite hearing from news reports that prices have stabilized, Garcia says groceries still feel unaffordable.

Wendy Garcia shops at Common Pantry's new location.

“The need is still very much here,” says Margaret O’Conor, the executive director of Common Pantry. According to O’Conor, the pantry serves approximately 800 households a month through its three food distribution events a week – 43 percent more guests than last year. The Food Depository’s Produce Mobile also delivers supplementary fresh fruit and vegetables for the pantry to distribute the third Monday of every month.

A new home

The pantry relocated to a new site at 3908 North Lincoln Avenue recently, a move that couldn’t have come at a better time.

Common Pantry’s former site was housed in the small basement of a nearby church where they have been serving neighbors experiencing food insecurity since 1979, making them one of the Food Depository’s oldest food access partners.

Inside Common Pantry's new location

The new building is more spacious and will enable the pantry to reach even more guests. There are no tight corners to maneuver around or stairs to climb while holding heavy bags of groceries as was the case at the former site.

The new location also includes temperature-controlled storage space, a comfortable back porch for social interaction and a communal multi-purpose room.

Shopping with dignity

“I like it here. It’s bigger,” says Wendy Garcia. When asked to name her favorite feature, Garcia shared that she’s a big fan of the shopping carts. Now that the pantry is on one level, guests are able to peruse the items on offer and load up their carts with the assistance of volunteers, just as they would in their local grocery store. Before, due to lack of space, guests indicated their selections from a printed list of items which were then assembled into bags by the pantry’s hardworking volunteers.

O’Conor says the guests’ ability to select their own items may seem like a small detail, but it has the power to change the entire pantry experience for her guests. Providing a dignified shopping experience is something that she pays great attention to.

Wendy Garcia appreciates the flowers she sometimes selects at Common Pantry.

During this particular visit, Garcia is able to pick-up some flowers, describing them as a nice touch. “They make me feel happy – special,” she says with a big smile. It’s not often she’s able to buy flowers to brighten her home.

Occasionally, the Food Depository’s community retail partners include non-food items such as flowers as part of their food rescue donations to local pantries. Common Pantry also collects quality food from its local grocery stores and shares it with other pantries in the area as part of a newer, more efficient approach to food rescue. This new approach involves a partnership between the Food Depository, local pantries and nearby food retailers.

A time for connection

For Lisa Griffin, her favorite aspect of the new location is the spacious community room located next to the pantry. Once a week, Common Pantry hosts a soup kitchen in the space, serving a hot nutritious meal on ceramic plates before its Wednesday food distributions. The soup kitchen provides guests with a chance to connect.

“It’s not just about the food,” says O’Conor, adding that she’s noticed many guests enjoy the opportunity to socialize with their neighbors.

“I like it here a lot better,” says Lisa Griffin. “It’s very convenient.”

Expansions such as Common Pantry’s are making a difference in communities across Cook County and are possible, in part, to the contributions of the Food Depository’s generous supporters. Because of this commitment, our network partners are able to strengthen their operations and build capacity to better serve our neighbors in need.

Sherrie Sutton, 66, still remembers the first time she took home some of the refrigerated prepared meals from Chosen Tabernacle food pantry in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood.

When Sutton heated them up for the children in her care, “they licked the bowl clean and were sad that we didn’t have more,” she said with a laugh.

Sutton fosters seven children ages 2 to 18, and the meals help the working mom keep her family fed. Whenever she needs to leave the older kids at home, the prepared meals ensure they’ll eat a healthy meal while she’s gone.

“(The meals) have been a lifesaver for me and my seven,” Sutton said.

Eloise Beasley says she can sometimes get two meals out of one prepared dinner.

Eloise Beasley, 74, appreciates that the prepared meals help her manage her diabetes. Affording groceries on a fixed income isn’t easy, nor is finding low-sodium foods when she’s grocery shopping at dollar stores. “The meals come in handy. And they’re delicious!” Beasley said, adding that it’s also nice not having to turn on the oven in the heat of summer.

More meals for more neighbors

Sutton and Beasley are just two of the neighbors the Greater Chicago Food Depository is eager to provide even more meals for when our new prepared meals facility is complete in 2024, part of our multi-year Nourish Project.

One of the healthy prepared meals available.

Our goal is to serve neighbors who experience specific challenges with accessing, affording and preparing food. Some don’t have access to a kitchen or have physical limitations that make cooking a challenge. Others have diabetes, heart disease or other medical conditions that are often greatly improved by low-sodium or other healthy foods. Unfortunately, many of those healthy items are a challenge to access or afford.

Still other neighbors are parents working two jobs and struggling to find the time and energy to cook for their kids. These healthy prepared meals are designed to help all of these neighbors at heightened risk of food insecurity.

We currently distribute prepared meals to a set number of our partner food pantries, part of a pilot program to identify best practices as we scale up meal production. Our new facility will be six to seven times larger than our current kitchen, allowing us to increase our daily production of healthy, made-from-scratch meals from 600 to 10,000 meals.

Our new prepared meals facility under construction.

“That’s thousands of people getting dinner who aren’t getting it now,” said Larry Weger, the Food Depository’s senior director of meal manufacturing, adding that the growth will also generate new job opportunities. We anticipate completion of the facility in early 2024.

In addition to preparing meals on site, the Food Depository purchases and distributes prepared meals from local businesses and community organizations. This sourcing supports our commitment to equity by investing directly in communities that have been impacted by generations of systemic inequities leading to higher levels of poverty and food insecurity. The ultimate goal is removing our neighbors’ need for food pantries altogether, creating a hunger-free community.

Priority populations

Pastor Sandy Gillespie, who runs the food pantry at Chosen Tabernacle, says that whenever prepared meals are available at her pantry, they go quick. She points to a couple key reasons for their popularity.

Chosen Tabernacle in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood is one of the Food Depository’s pilot distribution sites for our prepared meals program.

Many of the roughly 200 guests who visit Chosen Tabernacle’s pantry each week are older adults. “A lot of them are male guests with limited mobility or who don’t have the ability to cook,” Gillespie said. “They’ll select simple, easy things to prepare when they visit the pantry.”

"A lot of them say the (prepared) meals are a godsend.”

Lee Kinnard, 70, is one such guest. After decades of working on his feet at Kraft Foods, Kinnard says his legs get stiff when he stands in his kitchen cooking. He often uses a cane to get around, and much of that getting around is in service to others, volunteering at the food pantry and other locations four days a week.

Kinnard appreciates the prepared meals when he doesn’t feel like cooking, noting the salmon and chicken meals are his favorites, and says the meals are convenient, tasty and healthier than much of what he cooks for himself.

Healthy options

Pastor Gillespie is especially grateful that the prepared meals are healthy, as she often lovingly encourages guests to cut down on fried foods. “You can’t eat rib tips or fried pork chops three or four times a week,” she tells them, knowing that many of her pantry guests have high blood pressure or diabetes, or are at risk for these conditions.

Pastor Sandy Gillespie (photo by Joshua Lott for the Greater Chicago Food Depository)

“The need in our neighborhood is great,” she said. Most of the guests receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. And their building is located right next door to low-income senior housing. On a recent day, when the pantry distribution started at 1:00 p.m., Gillespie pulled into the parking lot at 9:30 a.m. and people were already lined up.

“We do what we can to make a dent,” she said. “It’s a labor of love.”

Thanks to the ongoing support of our donors, the Food Depository is grateful to equip Pastor Gillespie, as well as pantries and other meal programs throughout Cook County, with a vital new tool in that labor, working toward a hunger-free community one meal at a time.

Learn more about our prepared meals program and Nourish Project.

When Linda, 63, visited the Marillac St. Vincent Family Services food pantry on a recent Wednesday afternoon, her face lit up with nostalgic joy at the sight of the first produce container brimming with fresh sweet corn.

“My mom used to go to the family market and get fresh sweet corn when it was in season,” recalled Linda, one of the roughly 250 guests who visit the East Garfield Park pantry each week. “It was so much better than the canned (corn) we often ate.”

Though Linda was visiting the pantry to get food for the household she shares with her two daughters and two teenage grandkids, she planned to save the sweet corn she selected to share with her mom.

According to Marillac food pantry supervisor Holly Yacoumakis, Linda’s delight at the seasonal treat isn’t unusual.

“When our guests see the sweet corn, some will exclaim with excitement,” Yacoumakis said. “The thing I hear most is how people are going to grill it that night.”

The thing that delights Yacoumakis is the journey the corn took and the many hands that ensured it would be there for her pantry guests, who live in a neighborhood without much access to fresh produce. “This donation is beautiful,” she said.

Donating joy

Every summer, the Food Depository receives sweet corn from several Illinois farmers who plant, grow and harvest the corn specifically to donate to neighbors who are food insecure in Chicago.

An Agri Heritage Foundation farm harvests sweet corn

One of those donors, the Agri Heritage Foundation (AHF), has been organizing Illinois farmers to provide sweet corn to the state’s food banks for the past 16 years through their Sweet Corn for Charity program. Cari Garcia Manns founded AHF to promote the tireless work of the local farmers she interacts with in her role at the Chicago Board of Trade.

“We want to help people understand where their food comes from,” Manns said, adding that sweet corn became a great vehicle to do so. AHF hosts many educational programs, and Sweet Corn for Charity is now their largest effort.

Jim Rapp of Rapp Farms in Princeton, Illinois, has been donating to AHF’s Sweet Corn for Charity program for the past 11 years. Rapp has loved sweet corn since he was a kid and has passed that love on to his seven grandkids, all under the age of seven.

A Food Depository semi is ready to receive the sweet corn harvest

“Some little kid in the city has got to experience eating fresh sweet corn off the cob like I did as a kid,” Rapp said, speaking to his motivation to donate. He plants about an acre and a half of sweet corn each year, tucked between his main crops: commercial corn and soybeans. “We are so glad to participate.”

Tony Bonucci of Bonucci Farms, another Sweet Corn for Charity participant, also has fond childhood memories of eating sweet corn. Most of the crops on his Princeton, Illinois, farm are used for commercial purposes. “So, it’s more attractive that the sweet corn is going to people, to be enjoyed,” Bonucci said, adding that he’s happy to share the joy of this seasonal treat with others.

Raising crops and awareness

Every summer on a select Saturday morning, as the sun is just rising over Origer Farm in Marengo, Illinois, dozens of volunteers gather to pick sweet corn. The effort is part of the Growing Initiative Jim Origer started in 2010 to plant and harvest crops to donate to local food banks, including the Food Depository.

A Food Depository truck arrives at Origer Farm, ready to be filled with fresh sweet corn

Origer’s excitement for the annual donation is matched by his excitement about the volunteers who participate. “We created this as an opportunity for people to give back,” he said, explaining that more than 100 volunteers often show up to help, many recruited through personal connections and the food banks’ networks. “This is a great awareness opportunity, introducing people to food banks and the importance of fresh produce,” he said.

Sherie Huber was among the volunteers picking sweet corn at Origer Farm this year. “Fresh corn is a great memory of summer that everyone should have the opportunity to taste and remember,” she said, adding that this project is about equity for her.

“Fresh, local food should be for everyone.”

This year Origer planted about four acres of sweet corn, which filled three semi-trucks, one of which traveled more than 70 miles to the Food Depository. This year, Origer Farm donated nearly 17,500 pounds of corn, Bonucci Farms donated nearly 17,000 pounds and Rapp Farms donated more than 3,600 pounds. All told, these donations provided the equivalent of more than 31,000 meals to families in Cook County.

Volunteers pick sweet corn at Origer Farm

“We are so grateful for each of the dedicated partners that connect our Chicagoland neighbors to locally grown and freshly harvested produce,” said Lynda Rosenbush, the Food Depository’s director of procurement. “Addressing food insecurity is a big job, and we can’t do it alone. These consistent efforts exemplify the commitment of partners to provide high-quality nutritious food – something invaluable in our mission to end hunger.”

The Food Depository transports the sweet corn donations from the Agri Heritage Foundation farmers and Origer Farms to our warehouse. Nayak Farms in Gardner, Illinois, also donates sweet corn every year, delivering it directly to our facility. Within days of delivery, teams of volunteers repack the sweet corn from large metal cages to small boxes for distribution to our partner pantries.

Volunteers repack sweet corn at the Food Depository warehouse

A sweet seasonal treat

The shipment of sweet corn to the Marillac food pantry arrived less than a week after it had been harvested at Rapp and Bonucci Farms. At Marillac, it received prominent placement in the produce-forward pantry; it was the first item guests could select when shopping for food.

“They did that for us?” several pantry guests responded when hearing about the farmers who grew and donated the sweet corn. A few shared stories of enjoying sweet corn as a child.

Lorraine Moore selects corn at the Marillac food pantry to share with her grandkids

Lorraine Moore, 61, has been visiting Marillac’s pantry for a couple years, supplementing what she can afford on her fixed income. Over the summer, she watched her five grandkids, who are all 9 and younger, while their mom worked.

“Sweet corn is one of their favorites,” Moore said as she put a few ears of corn in her cart. She was excited to take it home, cook it for her grandkids and explain the long journey it had taken and the people who wanted to make sure they could enjoy the seasonal treat.

Join the fun and make a difference when you volunteer with the Food Depository!

For siblings Martin, 15, Ano, 10, and James, 8, summer is a glorious, unending time of parks, the pool, and playdates. For their mom Elva Guervero, however, summer is a time of worry about feeding her family.

“During the school year, my kids eat breakfast and lunch at school, so I just have to make dinner,” Guervero said, adding that local food pantries help provide ingredients for her family’s dinners. When school lets out for the summer, she needs to provide two more meals a day for three growing kids, putting an extra strain on the family budget.

Martin enjoys a Lunch Bus meal at LaVillita Park. (Photo by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.)

One Less Meal to Provide

To ease that stress, Guervero often takes her kids to LaVillita Park in Chicago’s South Lawndale neighborhood, where the Food Depository’s Lunch Bus makes a daily weekday stop throughout the summer months. LaVillita Park is one of 12 stops for the Lunch Bus, where we distribute meals and snacks to children under the age of 18.

For Guervero, the food is a huge help. “This is one less meal I have to provide at home,” she said as her kids sit on the grass to eat apple slices and yogurt.

A typical meal distributed to children at our Lunch Bus sites. (Photo by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.)

Guervero and her husband do their best to support their family of five on his income as a car mechanic. “If I worked too, I’d have to pay a babysitter, and all the money would be gone,” she said. “But one paycheck isn’t enough.”

The family represents a difficult reality throughout Chicago, where 23 percent of households with children are food insecure, a number that climbs above 30 percent in communities of color.

“It’s expensive paying rent and buying clothes and shoes for growing kids,” Guervero said. “This helps.”

The Joy of Breakfast

Meanwhile, at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, nearly 60 children recently lined up by their classroom doors to receive a packaged breakfast and carton of milk. In addition to the meals we distribute through our summer Lunch Buses, the Food Depository also provides breakfast, lunch and snacks to children at nearly 150 community sites, including the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club.

The meals we distribute through all of these sites are meant help alleviate rising food insecurity for children in the summer. In Illinois, of every 100 students who receive a free or reduced-price lunch during the school year, only 12 participate in a free summer meal program.

Day campers line up to receive breakfast at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club. (Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis for the Food Depository.)

Hyde Park Neighborhood Club’s summer camp welcomes 6-year-olds through teenagers for their eight-week program. The camp includes crafts, games, activities, field trips and a daily breakfast and snack provided by the Food Depository.

Alex, 6, took his meal back to one of the child-size tables in the room, where he ate next to fellow day campers. He was delighted that the day’s breakfast included a muffin. It’s his favorite, and he was hungry.

Helping Local Families

Lyra Williams, program and operations manager for the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club, estimates that 40 percent of the children in their summer camp rely on the food they receive there to supplement what’s available at home.

Hyde Park Neighborhood Club day campers fuel up for the day with a healthy breakfast. (Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis for the Food Depository.)

“Kids will run up and ask, ‘Do you have a second snack or breakfast?’” Williams said. “Kids have no shame asking for food if they’re hungry.” While some are simply endlessly hungry growing kids, Williams knows some of the families experience financial and food insecurity, which often intensifies in the summer.

“We offer scholarships to families who can’t afford to pay for camp,” she said, adding that refugees and asylum-seeking families living in their area attend for free. “We can only offer the scholarships because of the Food Depository’s support.

“The food you provide means everything. We’re a nonprofit and wouldn’t be able to provide meals on our own,” Williams said. “The food helps us, and it helps our families.”

Fueling Growing Bodies

Magaly Castrejon picks up meals for her children from the Lunch Bus. (Photo by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.)

At LaVillita Park Lunch Bus site, Magaly Castrejon helped her son, Adriel, 4, open his string cheese container, part of the meal he received from the Lunch Bus. His sister Aliyah, 7, sat next to him, drinking chocolate milk. They live nearby so the kids rode to the park on their scooters, with Castrejon walking alongside.

Castrejon works nights at Fed Ex to support her kids and Castrejon’s parents, who live with them. She receives SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, but said, “Sometimes it’s still hard to afford food. That’s why we come here.”

Siblings Aliyah and Adriel stop playing long enough to eat their Lunch Bus meal. (Photo by Nancy Stone for the Food Depository.)

Suddenly her children were up again, whizzing around on their scooters. Watching her kids, whom she says don’t stay still for long, Castrejon said, “We really appreciate the food.”

Any family with children in need of summer meals can visit summerfeedingillinois.org or text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 to find a nearby meal site.

Kailee Tomasic, manager of the Elk Grove Township food pantry, can’t imagine trying to serve their current 800 guests a month from the space they inhabited just three years ago. It was a mere 375 square feet.

“Our old pantry was as big as our current walk-in freezer,” Tomasic said. Their current facility is 3,640 square feet, nearly ten times larger than their previous location. Their move, part of the relocation of all Elk Grove Township offices, came just in time to help them respond to a tidal wave of need.

Tomasic started with the food pantry in January 2020, the new facility opened the following month, and COVID-19 shut the community down the month after. Suddenly community members started coming to the pantry in droves, driven by the financial strain caused by the pandemic, rising inflation and elevated food prices.

Kailee Tomasic, manager of the Elk Grove Township food pantry. (photos by Taylor Glascock for the Food Depository)

During 2020, the food pantry experienced a 40 percent increase in the number of guests coming to them for food, rising from an average of 230 families a month in 2019 to 326 families per month in 2020.

Same Food, Higher Bill

By the fall of 2022, the pantry was serving more than 500 guests a month. In the past few months, that’s risen to more than 800.

“I believe it is a mix of inflation, high food prices, utilities, and property taxes,” Tomasic said of the spike in numbers. “At the grocery store, they’re getting the same amount of food at twice what they used to pay.” This is especially difficult for retirees on fixed incomes, which accounts for a third of the pantry’s guests.

Laura and her mom, Delores

Laura, a 49-year-old mother of two, has frequented the pantry for the past year and a half, often with her 84-year-old mother, Delores. They all live together, a household of five when you add in Delores’ husband. They appreciate the extra food available at the pantry.

Laura works full-time but still struggles to provide for her children. Her parents have a fixed income. Referencing inflation and the rising food prices, Laura said, “It’s horrible. I buy the minimum at Jewel and it’s still $200. This pantry has helped a lot. I can get canned goods and staple items.”

Providing Choice and Selection

The pantry’s larger location has allowed for a client-choice set-up, where guests are able to “shop” for the items they want.

“Our clients are absolutely over-the-moon ecstatic with our transition from prepackaged dry goods to a full-on store for shopping with fresh goods,” Tomasic said.

To avoid long lines, pantry guests make an appointment to visit, and each client is given a food card to streamline check-in.

Tomasic remains vigilant to keep their ample shelves stocked to meet the ever-increasing need in the community. In addition to the pantry’s partnership with the Food Depository, she also collects food from several local grocery stores and restaurants.

The rising number of guests has also prompted the pantry to add distribution days to their weekly schedule. They now serve pantry guests four days a week.

Mireya, in the grey shirt, shops for groceries for her family of six. 

Mireya, a mother of four, has been coming to the pantry for two months. While her husband works, she stays home with their youngest child, who has special needs. Mireya says inflation has made it difficult to afford enough food for her large family.

She especially appreciates the personal hygiene items, like toilet paper, and the staple foods she receives at the pantry. “My kids always ask for milk and cereal,” she said. Thanks to the pantry, she’s able to provide these favorite foods. Tomasic credits the Food Depository for that selection.

“Our partnership means everything to me and my clients,” Tomasic said.

“Without it, my clients would not be able to get fresh produce, dairy, and very rarely would have meat. And the pantry would not be as well stocked as it is. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you so much for everything that you are able to provide.”

When you support the Food Depository, you ensure our partner pantries are well stocked and our neighbors have the food they need to thrive.

"We are a two-income household and even with our jobs we are still using up everything," said Nikkitta Johnson during a recent visit to his local food pantry, Breakthrough Urban Ministries' Fresh Market in East Garfield Park.

Johnson is a graphic designer and his girlfriend of six years, Iris Dickinson, works in customer service. Like many in the area, they live paycheck to paycheck. This was mostly manageable until food prices skyrocketed, inflation rose, and crucial pandemic-era public assistance programs such as SNAP were rolled back in recent months. Wages are simply not keeping up.

"It has been pretty stressful, I'm not going to lie," said Dickinson. "We've had a lot of car troubles on top of a lot of normal life household troubles."

"Having options like the pantry gives us a little more leeway because the only thing that we're concerned about these days is being able to get to work and eat."

A Noticeable Shift

Last year marked the Garfield Park couple’s first trip to a food pantry. Many working households are in the same boat.

"The pandemic and inflation have shown us a little different dynamic when it comes to food insecurity," said Wendy Daniels, associate director of food services for the Breakthrough Urban Ministries' Fresh Market, one of the Food Depository's network partners. In recent months she has seen an increase in the number of working households coming to the pantry.

Johnson and Dickinson have noticed the shift as well. “I used to always think that pantries were for older people and big families, but these days I see people my age,” Johnson said.

“I know people who go to the pantry and they're on every form of public assistance there is. And I know that same amount of people who have jobs and are coming and going from their jobs."

The Issue of Access

Though the couple’s recent car repairs caused a financial strain, they were vital. There aren’t many grocery stores in the area, which means having a working vehicle is essential not just for getting to work but also for accessing food.

“If you don’t have a ride, it’s really just the corner stores, gas stations and the Save-A-Lot,” said Iris. “And the corner stores don’t have the meat – just deli meat – and no produce. And when they do, the prices are double or triple the prices at grocery stores. I’m talking about bread, milk and eggs.”

Breakthrough Urban Ministries' Fresh Market

Breakthrough’s Daniels notes that accessibility and selection are common issues for their guests. “We have a couple of small neighborhood stores and shops but nothing significant where you can get fresh meat, fresh produce and shelf-stable goods. We are literally the only space where you can get all that in this area.”

Filling the Gaps

Like most working households, Johnson and Dickinson use the pantry to supplement what they can afford at the grocery store. Dickinson enjoys cooking and has gotten creative in making the food they are able to get last.

"We are the type of people who can sacrifice," Dickinson said.

"We know what our basic needs are, and we know how to get by." During her visits to the pantry, she said she tries to pick up "anything that I can make stretch into two to three meals."

"Iris is a smart shopper," Johnson said. "She'll get a whole chicken or turkey that we won't eat all in one meal. With the leftovers, she'll chop up and we'll have turkey tacos and then a turkey stew. She makes sure we eat all that turkey!"

"I like that you shop like that," he said, addressing his partner.

For now, they are grateful that grocery shopping is possible at all, whether at the pantry or a grocery store. They are not alone. Despite promising inflation numbers, food insecurity is back to where it was during the first few months of the pandemic. In turn, more and more people are turning to food pantries like Breakthrough for help.

“This pantry is everything for us,” said Dickinson, “and for this community.”

When you support the Food Depository, you ensure that our more than 800 partner food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other meal programs have food to give their neighbors in need.

You would never guess the challenges Mei Jin Chan has known throughout her 78 years from her ready smile and gratitude.

“I really appreciate the food,” Chan said, before sharing the story of why she needs the groceries she receives at the St. James Wabash food pantry in Chicago’s Douglas neighborhood.

After moving from China to the U.S. by herself at 25, fleeing the political unrest that killed several of her family members, Chan eventually secured work as a dishwasher, a job that paid about $100 a month. The man she married was a cook, earning roughly $300 a month.

Mei Jin Chan says the St. James Wabash food pantry is essential for her and her husband to make it through each month.

Those were typical jobs and wages for Chinese immigrants, she said, and complaining about low pay wasn’t an option if you wanted to keep working. Plus, Chan said, “I was so happy to have a job.”

The couple now does their best to support themselves on their $800 monthly social security benefits. They live in low-income senior housing in Chicago’s Douglas neighborhood and Chan regularly walks the many blocks to the St. James Wabash pantry, where she is especially grateful to receive fresh vegetables. The food is essential for the couple to make it through each month.

“They really help me here,” Chan said of the pantry. “I’m grateful to live in a place that helps people who need it.”

A Changing Community

When Cathy Moore joined the St. James Wabash pantry staff in 2005, the pantry didn’t serve many Chinese-speakers. Then, 99% of their pantry guests were Black, many doing their best to make ends meet in the nearby housing projects, which have since been torn down, separating families and forcing them to find homes elsewhere throughout the city.

Today, Moore is the director of food pantry programs at St. James Wabash, which serves Chinatown and Chicago’s Douglas, Armour Square, South Loop, Bronzeville and Bridgeport neighborhoods. Moore now estimates that 75% of their more than 300 pantry guests each week are Asian, a figure that rises when you add in their home deliveries to those who are physically unable to visit the pantry themselves.

Cathy Moore, director of food pantry programs at St. James Wabash, checks in one of their pantry guests.

The transformation started with the Chinatown revitalization in 2006-2007, she said, and now includes the growing Asian population in neighborhoods near Chinatown, as the cost of living there has spiked and pushed many residents to more affordable neighborhoods nearby, including Bridgeport and Armour Square.

Though the demographics of the St. James Wabash pantry guests have changed, Moore’s commitment to her guests remains steadfast, rooted in her own experiences with food insecurity and homelessness.

“The pantry is a place where guests should feel welcomed and loved,” she said. “It should be a place of empowerment.”

That welcoming spirit inspired Moore to post signage throughout the pantry in English and Chinese and to color code other signs and labels to help bridge communication gaps. Moore now requests culturally appropriate foods for the pantry from the Food Depository, knowing their guests prefer fresh vegetables, don’t eat many canned goods and often ask for oatmeal, rice and cooking oil.

Qi Lou Geng appreciates that the St. James Wabash pantry is close to her home.

Qi Lou Geng, 73, appreciates the availability of these familiar foods. She visits the St. James Wabash food pantry regularly to get eggs, oil and rice to cook for herself and her son, who lives with her. “I like that it’s close to my home,” she said, while loading up her rolling grocery cart for her walk home.

A Desperate Need

Winnie Lei, 51, visited the food pantry at Our Lady of Fatima in Brighton Park on a recent Saturday to receive food for her family, which includes her husband and their three teenaged children. Lei started visiting the pantry during the pandemic, when affording food for her family became nearly impossible.

Lei’s husband works in a restaurant, an industry that was hard hit during COVID-19 closures. Mei, who doesn’t currently work, goes to the grocery store sparingly, only shopping sales. Everything is expensive, she said, especially basics like milk, eggs and produce.

Winnie Lei says the food pantry at Our Lady of Fatima is her family's main source of food.

“This is our main source of food,” Lei said of the pantry at Our Lady of Fatima. “I don’t know what we’d do without it.”

Brighton Park has seen even more change than the Douglas neighborhood in recent years. From the 2010 to 2020 census, the Asian population grew 117% in Brighton Park and now accounts for about 10% of the community, inching up on the Hispanic majority. Our Lady of Fatima’s pantry reflects that trend. About 75% of the pantry guests are Asian, and all of the staff and volunteers are Hispanic.

Irene Tovalin, the pantry manager, has arranged the pantry like a supermarket, with signage in English, Spanish and Chinese. She knows the pantry is a desperate need for many families simply from the fact that some start lining up for the 10 a.m. pantry at 5 a.m. They serve more than 100 guests from an array of communities – Hispanic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Black and Caucasian – each week, not counting the couple dozen households where volunteers deliver food to those unable to pick it up themselves.

Irene Tovalin, the pantry manager at Our Lady of Fatima, says the food pantry can be summed up in two words: peace and love.

Building Bridges

Mei Huang, 57, is one of the many Asian neighbors who moved to Brighton Park in the past decade, relocating from another part of Chicago. Originally from China, she moved to the U.S. with her parents and sister when she was 26. Huang can’t work for health reasons and grows vegetables in their garden at home to help feed her family, which includes her husband and their 19-year-old daughter.

“I get almost all our food here,” Huang said of the Our Lady of Fatima food pantry. “I honestly don’t know what we’d do without it.”

Mei Huang shops at the Our Lady of Fatima pantry with the help of a volunteer.

Tovalin hears similar feedback from many pantry guests, along with abundant gratitude. “A lot of guests say how happy they are we’re in their neighborhood,” she said, adding how much these positive words mean to them, especially as they try their best to bridge language and cultural gaps.

“This pantry can be summed up in two words: peace and love,” Tovalin said.

“That goes both ways. We seek to give those things and we certainly feel their understanding and appreciation in return.”

When you support the Food Depository, you help us equip our partner pantries to be a trusted source of food assistance for our neighbors in need.

Bessie Faust, 65, and Louise Wilson, 85, are pushing two grocery carts overflowing with bags of produce down the hallway of the Judge Green Apartments, a senior housing high-rise in Chicago’s Oakland neighborhood.

They stop at a door, where Faust knocks and calls out, “Frank? It’s Bessie, baby. You want some produce?”

Bessie Faust, 65, and Louise Wilson, 85, delivered produce to their neighbors at the Judge Green Apartments.

Frank Williamson, 74, opens his door and accepts two bags full of oranges, onions, mangoes, potatoes, apples and carrots, this month’s selection of fresh produce from the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Judge Green Apartments, which is run by the Chicago Housing Authority, is one of 100 low-income senior housing buildings where the Food Depository distributes produce monthly.

“This means I eat,” says Williamson, 74, setting down the bags of produce in his studio apartment. His Social Security benefits only cover his “bare bones necessities,” he says, and the current high cost of food makes affording groceries even more difficult. “This is how I’m dealing with it,” he says, pointing to one of the bags of produce and noting his deep gratitude.

“These food deliveries show me that people still care.”

Frank Williamson, 74, was grateful for that day's produce delivery.

A Two-Fold Need

In addition to the monthly produce deliveries, Judge Green is also one of about 150 low-income senior apartment buildings throughout Chicago where the Food Depository delivers monthly Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) boxes full of shelf-stable foods, such as pasta or rice, canned vegetables and fruit, peanut butter, oatmeal or other cereal, dry milk and canned meat.

The CSFP boxes are provided by the USDA to seniors 60 and older who meet certain income requirements. The Food Depository distributes 6,000 of the boxes monthly to qualifying older adults through senior apartments, including Judge Green, and select food pantries throughout the city.

Larona “Ronnie” Carter, the resident service coordinator at Judge Green, explained that both the CSFP boxes and the produce deliveries help meet a two-fold need for most residents: food that’s affordable and accessible.

Larona “Ronnie” Carter, resident service coordinator at Judge Green Apartments, treats her community ambassadors (volunteers) like family.

Most of the roughly 130 residents at Judge Green are on a fixed income and have little left with which to buy food after paying their bills. The older adults who do have the resources to buy groceries often face accessibility issues, with the nearest grocery store almost a mile away, no easy trek for those using a walker or wheelchair. Those who take a bus are limited to buying only what they can carry.

These challenges are part of the reason 8% of the older adult population (those 60 and over) throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs are food insecure, according to Feeding America’s 2023 State of Senior Hunger report. This local figure is higher than the national rate of 7.1% and climbs higher still in communities of color.

The free food delivered right to the Judge Green residents’ doors addresses both hurdles, and ensures the residents have enough nutritious food to maintain a healthy diet.

Ken Allen, 67, an Air Force Veteran, was especially grateful for the food deliveries when he had hip surgery in 2022. “The food deliveries are very, very helpful,” he said, adding that when he was recovering, he couldn’t get out to buy groceries.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve counted on this food because I couldn’t get out, especially in the winter,” he said. “I can’t put into words how grateful I am.”

Boxes of Hope

Across the city, in Logan Square, Valerie Miles, 63, visited the Chicago Hope pantry to pick up CSFP boxes for herself and her 85-year-old mom. The two women live together, doing what they can to make ends meet on their Social Security benefits. Miles said they don’t buy many groceries.

Valerie Miles, 63, visited Chicago Hope pantry to receive her CSFP box and supplementary box of cheese.

“Just the basics. No canned goods. They’re too expensive,” she said, adding they also often go without meat. “This helps me stock my cabinets,” Miles said, her hand on a food box. “And it allows us to eat healthier. It makes a big difference.”

Chicago Hope pantry distributes the boxes on Friday mornings, a supplement to their regular food pantry distributions on Mondays and Thursdays.

“We’re all blessed that we’re able to manage on our own and are glad to do this little part for those who need some help,” said pantry manager Maggie Jordan, 71, adding that she and her volunteers are all older adults themselves.

Maggie Jordan, Chicago Hope pantry manager, offers her guests recipes in English and Spanish.

Food and Fellowship

On this day, one of the first guests through the door was picking up boxes for her grandparents, who were at home sick in bed. “They depend on this food,” the guest said.

Jordan sees many proxies picking up boxes for people who can’t come themselves. This usually accounts for their guests 70 and older.

Carmen Perez, 71, came to pick up food boxes for herself and her sister Jana, 82, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and diabetes.

Carmen Perez, 71, picks up a food box for herself and her sister.

“Everything is so expensive,” Perez said. “And it’ll cost more tomorrow.” She doesn’t buy canned goods anymore because they are too expensive. The CSFP box makes a big difference, she said, adding that her favorite in the box is cereal.

For those who can collect the box themselves, Jordan realizes that food often isn’t their only need.

“There are two needs served here: a food need and a social need,” she said.

She added that the seniors who live alone can feel isolated and many don’t have family living nearby. “In the summer months, some of the seniors will sit outside and play cards or just chat.” Jordan joins them when she can. “They come for something and go home with more. That’s how it should be.”

Learn more about our food programs and services for older adults. 

When a vanload of staff members and advocates departed the Greater Chicago Food Depository parking lot for the 2023 Springfield Lobby Day, the vehicle was filled with printed talking points, a few nerves, and, most importantly, impassioned voices.

“You’re here to lift your voices,” Food Depository CEO Kate Maehr told the roughly two dozen Food Depository Lobby Day participants later that evening in Springfield during a final advocacy training session.

“Thousands of our neighbors are not sure where their next meal will come from. We can and must do better.”

The group traveled to Springfield to meet with state senators and representatives to encourage their support and funding of two key bills. The first, Breakfast After the Bell, would provide more students free breakfast options in their classrooms. If passed, this bill would ensure that more children receive the all-important first meal of the day, helping them learn, grow, and thrive.

The second, Farm to Food Bank, would better connect Illinois farmers and their produce with food banks. This bill would result in more fresh produce at food pantries, benefiting pantry guests as well as local farmers.

Both bills had passed the state House of Representatives unanimously and now needed approval by the Senate, as well as funding.

Wendy Daniels, second from right, with fellow advocates

“These bills are close to my heart, especially Farm to Food Bank” said Wendy Daniels, director of food services at Breakthrough Urban Ministries, a Food Depository partner. “In our community, food options are crummy. Lots of processed foods. We want farmers to supply more options for students, kids and families."

"This bill would lead to healthier communities.”

A Lobby Day veteran, Daniels was excited to be part of the group this year, the first Lobby Day since 2019 due to the pandemic. “It’s encouraging for me to speak up for those who can’t,” she said. “It’s unfathomable that in our rich country, our rich state, there are hungry people.”

Generating Support

Before meeting with State Senator Linda Holmes to thank her for introducing the Farm to Food Bank bill years ago and to encourage her support of Breakfast After the Bell, Janet Edmonson-Woods, Vi Nedd-Jackman, and Debra Strickland were nervous. All first-time Lobby Day participants, they were inspired to join the group by the needs they see every day in the communities they serve at Food Depository partner pantries.

Kate Maehr, Food Depository executive director and CEO, and Sophie Milam, vice president of public policy, joined them when they met with Senator Holmes.

After the three advocates introduced themselves and shared briefly about the food pantry guests they serve, Milam explained that sometimes the barrier to a school participating in the federal Breakfast After the Bell program is a small purchase, such as a few trash cans. The bill would offer small grants to cover such costs, empowering more schools to implement the program and ensuring more students have access to a healthy morning meal.

From left: advocate Debra Strickland; executive director and CEO Kate Maehr; State Senator Linda Holmes; VP of policy, advocacy and engagement Sophie Milam; and advocates Vi Nedd-Jackman and Janet Edmondson-Woods

When Senator Holmes agreed to support the bill as well as co-sponsor it, Debra Strickland’s face lit up. “We are so grateful,” she said and explained that in her role at Teamwork Englewood she sees the importance of breakfast for the young people they serve.

When the women regrouped in the hall after leaving Senator Holmes’ office, Edmonson-Woods said, “We did it!” Their first appointment of the day had proven successful and provided the confidence they then needed to meet with several more legislators, two more of whom agreed to co-sponsor one or both of the bills.

A week later, the Farm to Food Bank bill passed the Illinois Senate unanimously. It now goes to the Governor, and Food Depository advocates are already encouraging lawmakers to prioritize the bill in the state budget.

Good to Be Back

Lobby Day participant Michael DeMeyer never dreamed that a journey he started during the pandemic would lead him to Springfield. When the lines outside his local food pantry grew exponentially during the early months of COVID-19, DeMeyer felt inspired to volunteer, compelled to help his neighbors who were barely making ends meet.

That site, All Saints Food Pantry in Palatine, set a new site record in April, serving more than 2,000 families in one month for the first time. He had those families in mind when he met with lawmakers.

“Access to fresh produce and just more produce in general is imperative,” he said.

His time volunteering at All Saints Food Pantry has fueled his interest in the Farm to Food Bank bill. He has seen pantry guests' desire for fresh produce, which can be cost prohibitive at grocery stores. But DeMeyer knows the challenges. The financial shortfall in Illinois is a real problem, he said.

“Support of these bills is one thing, getting them into the budget is another issue altogether. There’s only so much money to go around.” DeMeyer attended Lobby Day, his first ever, to encourage that much-needed financial support from his local legislators and to raise his voice for those in his community who deserve access to healthy food.

From left: advocate Malaquias Paz and senior manager of safety net optimization Erin Novak talk with State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes

When the last appointment and hallway conversation of the day were done, first-timers like DeMeyer were grateful they had stepped out of their comfort zone to represent the needs and neighbors they serve every week. Lobby Day veterans were grateful to be back advocating for anti-hunger legislation after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic.

“It was great to have all these voices heard. This was sorely missing during COVID,” Kate Maehr said. She enjoyed seeing familiar faces in the work to end hunger as well as the enthusiasm of those new to the mission. “This reminded me of why we do this work. Best day ever.”

Learn more about the Food Depository's advocacy work and how you can join us. 

Even though David Cheeks started volunteering with the Greater Chicago Food Depository more than 25 years ago, he still remembers his instant connection to our mission.

“There’s something about the Food Depository,” said Cheeks, now 67. “You go there and they explain the mission to end hunger in Cook County. They make you feel part of it.”

He also resonates with the communal aspect of the work.

“I came from a community where we helped each other,” Cheeks said, “and that’s what the Food Depository does. It’s members of the community coming together to help the rest of the community.”

Cheeks began volunteering with the Food Depository as part of a team that promoted corporate social responsibility at the Federal Reserve Bank, where he worked in computer operations. He brought a group of his coworkers to a repack event every month, where they repackaged bulk products into family-size portions. Cheeks said he was struck by the immediacy of the impact these efforts made.

David Cheeks volunteers at a repack event

“The staff always emphasize that what you pack today goes out to the community tomorrow,” he said. “Then you see the (Food Depository) trucks driving around in the community and know that could be something you packed going out to feed your neighbors.”

In addition to repack events, Cheeks has also helped with food rescue, produce trucks, the Food Depository’s annual fundraising gala, and more, serving more than 2,000 volunteer hours in the past 25 years.

“I’m trying to think of what I haven’t done over the years,” he said with a laugh. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to help the Food Depository.”

One of Cheeks’ favorite parts of volunteering is introducing people to new foods. As he hands eggplant, beets, and zucchini to pantry guests, he explains why he likes them and shares ideas on how to prepare them.

Cheeks also finds joy in the relationships he’s developed through his volunteer service. He’s become good friends with several fellow volunteers and considers some of the young Americorps volunteers he’s served alongside like his godchildren. His Food Depository community has become like family, he said.

Still, his biggest source of fulfillment is seeing the guests’ gratitude upon receiving food. “I’m getting to make someone’s day,” he said. “It’s a great high when they say thank you.”

Volunteers are invaluable in our mission to end hunger. Join our volunteer community and make a difference for our neighbors throughout Cook County.

Luis Gomez is especially aware of the children who come through the food pantry at First Presbyterian Kimbark in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, where he volunteers every week. When he was a young boy, he would have loved to come to a place like this with tables full of free, nutritious produce, meat, and shelf-stable goods.

Growing up with his three siblings and single mom, Gomez didn’t have much to eat. “I came from the projects – Ashland and Race,” he said. “My mom would ask our neighbors for food, but they didn’t have any either.”

Gomez remembers eating hot peppers with bread, and another time raw onions, whatever his family could get their hands on.

“Going without food built up anxiety in my heart and soul,” he said.

It’s memories like these that motivate Gomez to volunteer every week at First Presbyterian Kimbark's food pantry. He lives half a block away with his girlfriend and the two kids they work hard to provide regular meals for.

Gail Robinson, the pantry coordinator, calls Gomez an unsung hero of the food pantry, and one of the key reasons their Free Food Market is able to serve about 130 families each week. He’s there every Wednesday for set-up and every Thursday to distribute food, helping to protect his neighbors from the tough realities of hunger.

The food pantry at First Presbyterian Kimbark serves about 130 families each week thanks to volunteers like Gomez.

When asked what message his younger self would have for him, seeing his work to ensure others have enough food, Gomez got emotional. With tears rolling down his face, he finally whispered, “He would smile.”

“This place represents my hopes and dreams for helping others,” said Gomez, standing behind the produce table at the food pantry. “This place is my heart.”

The thousands of volunteers who help our pantries and other meal programs carry out their work in communities across Cook County are the lifeblood of the Food Depository’s work. Their dedication and passion make it possible to feed our neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Join us in our mission to end hunger! Learn all the ways you can volunteer to make an impact in your community.