Join Us at an Event

Our annual special events raise awareness and funds to end hunger in a variety of creative ways. View our full calendar of upcoming events.

Spring

Baconfest Chicago

Baconfest Chicago is a nationally renowned, locally beloved festival dedicated to America’s favorite cured meat: bacon! Chicago’s best chefs concoct and serve brilliant bacon dishes to thousands of passionate bacon lovers. Chefs provide tasting portions of their creative bacon-inspired dishes. A portion of the proceeds from the event, as well as the on-site raffle and food drive, benefits the Food Depository.

Since 2010, Baconfest has raised $439,058 to benefit the Food Depository.

Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner

The Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner brings together 2,000 of Chicago’s top architects, brokers, developers, property managers, interior contractors and design professionals to celebrate their industry’s outstanding achievements and support the Food Depository. The 2019 Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner will take place on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

The 2018 Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner raised more than $1,450,000 for local hunger relief.

Summer

Hunger Walk

For 33 years, our member agencies, including soup kitchens, pantries and shelters, have raised money to support their communities by walking along Chicago’s lakefront. The 2018 Hunger Walk took place in Jackson Park on September 16. Read our recap of the day.

12,387 attendees participated in the 33rd Annual Hunger Walk on September 8, 2018.

Canstruction

Chicago architects, engineers and construction companies build artistic structures out of canned goods to fight hunger. These structures are showcased in the Merchandise Mart lobby leading up to the Canstruction awards ceremony. Since 2007, Canstruction has contributed 841,320 pounds of food to the Food Depository. Learn more about Canstruction.

Fall

Chicago Marathon

Runners who would like to make their Chicago Marathon experience more meaningful may raise funds for the Food Depository as part of the Charity Program. Visit the Food Depository’s Charity Team page for more information.

FIA Cares Great Chicago Steak Out

The FIA Cares Great Chicago Steak Out is a dinner event that raises funds and awareness for the fight against hunger at the conclusion of the annual FIA Expo.

Since 2008, this event has raised more than $2.7 million for the Greater Chicago Food Depository.