One in eight Chicago area households’ experiences food insecurity, and those who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will be forced to find new ways to feed themselves and their families if the government shutdown does not end by Saturday.
Sarting Nov. 1, federal food aid will no longer be provided as the government shutdown drags on, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in late October.
“This is unprecedented and stands to cause a historic, but avoidable, hunger crisis,” said Greater Chicago Food Depository, a partner organization of Cook County Department of Public Health in addressing food insecurity. “If SNAP is disrupted, communities in every part of the United States will experience an immediate hunger crisis.”
1.9 million people in Illinois rely on SNAP benefits, according to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
An estimated one in five Chicago area households experiences food insecurity, according to GCFD.
More than 527,000 families in Cook County will not be able to access the food aid they need without SNAP benefits, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health. In DuPage County, more than 670,000 residents rely on SNAP benefits to buy groceries, according to the DuPage County Board.
For anyone looking for help or looking for a way to provide help amid the pause in benefits, NBC Chicago put together a list of resources in and around the Chicago area.
Numbers to call for help
GCFD encourages SNAP participants to frequently check the Illinois Department of Human Services webpage for real-time updates and enroll in IDHS text messages by calling 1-800-843-6154.
In DuPage County, residents can call 211 or visit 211DuPage.gov to find food pantries and programs in their community offering help. 211 can also help residents who need assistance paying rent or energy bills, the DuPage County Board said in a statement.
Food pantries in Chicago
Common Pantry — 3908 North Lincoln Avenue — 773-327-0553
The Friendship Center – 2711 West Lawrence Avenue — 773-907-6388
Irving Park Community Food Pantry – 4256 North Ridgeway Avenue — 773-283-6296
Nourishing Hope’s Sheridan Market – 3945 North Sheridan Road — 773-525-1777
Onward Neighborhood House – 5433 West Diversey Avenue — 773-622-3215
Cornerstone Community Outreach – 4628 North Clifton Avenue — 773-271-8163
All Things Through Christ – 6600 South Hermitage Avenue — 708-654-7826
Pilsen Food Pantry – 2124 South Ashland Avenue — 773-812-3150
Saint Sabina Social Services Food Pantry – 1120 West 79th Street — 773-483-4300
The Southwest Collective – 5525 South Pulaski Road — 708-740-8914
The Salvation Army (Adele and Robert Stern Red Shield Center) – 945 West 69th Street — 773-358-3200
Brave Space Alliance – 1515 East 52nd Place — 872-333-5199
Above and Beyond Food Pantry – 817 South Pulaski Road — 773-823-1660
Nourishing Hope’s El Mercadito – 3533 West North Avenue — 773-525-177
Greater Chicago Food Depository offers a map of locations offering free groceries and food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters or mobile distribution centers offering hot meals in Chicago and Cook County. See GCFD’s map here.
Food pantries in the suburbs
Moraine Township Food Pantry – 800 Central Avenue, Highland Park — 847-432-3240
Niles Township Food Pantry – 8341 Lockwood Avenue, Skokie — 847-983-0073
Together We Cope – 17010 South Oak Park Avenue, Tinley Park — 708-633-5040
West Suburban Community Pantry – 6809 Hobson Valley Drive, Suite 118, Woodridge — 630-512-9921
Beyond Hunger – 848 Lake Street, Oak Park — 708-386-1324
Loaves & Fishes Community Services — 1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville — 630-355-3663
Loaves & Fishes — 580 Exchange Court, Aurora — 630-355-3663
People’s Resource Center — 211 South Naperville Road, Wheaton — 630-682-5402
People’s Resource Center — 104 Chestnut Avenue, Westmont — 630-682-5402
West Suburban Community Pantry — 6809 Hobson Valley Drive, Unit 118, Woodridge — 630-512-9921
Unity in Community Foundation offers a list of food panties with the Leyden Township Community, including in Franklin Park, River Grove and Norridge.
Below is a map of food pantries serving DuPage County residents:
Grocery distribution sites
Greater Chicago Food Depository partnered with community organizations to run grocery distribution hubs starting Nov. 1.
Each hub operates on Saturdays throughout November. Pre-packaged boxes of groceries will be distributed, each containing more than 20 pounds of food.
GCFD advises people to bring their Link2Feed card if they have one, however, they are not required for service.
The following sites will distribute groceries Nov. 1:
Fee-N-Deed Market — 14200 South Martin Luther King Drive, Dolton — Distribution at 10 a.m.
Grace and Peace — 1856 North LeClaire Avenue, Chicago — Distribution at 10 a.m.
Harmony Community Cares — 1908 South Millard Avenue, Chicago — Distribution at 10 a.m.
St. Sabina — 1210 West 78th Place — Distribution at 10 a.m.
Nourishing Hope, Ravenswood — 5151 North Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago — Distribution at 12 p.m.
Sankofa Food Market — 901 East 95th Street, Chicago — Distribution at 12 p.m.
More information is available here.
Restaurants
Tazza Italian Ristorante: 14065 South Bell Road in Homer Glen
Tazza Italian Ristorante is offering pasta, salad and bread on the house to those losing SNAP benefits.
“No one should go hungry! Starting November 1, and until benefits are reinstated, no family should worry where their next meal is coming from,” the restaurant said in a post on social media. “If you are losing your SNAP benefits, we are here to help.”
Show the restaurant your SNAP benefit card between 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday to be served a dine-in meal.
Wooden Paddle: 212 Stephen Street in Lemont and 23 Calendar Avenue in La Grange
Wooden Paddle is offering free lunch to those losing SNAP benefits at both their Lemont and La Grange restaurant locations from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for all of November.
“Starting November 1st, if you’re losing your SNAP benefits and worried about feeding your family, free lunch is on us. Just tell the staff and show your card — they’ll know what to do,” the restaurant said in a post on social media.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria is partnering with Lawndale Community Church to provide direct meal support to families during the SNAP benefit pause, the company said in a statement Friday.
Starting Nov. 2, families facing food insecurity will receive $10 Lou Malnati’s coupons through Lawndale Community Church. The coupons will be distributed through Nov. 16, the company said, and can be redeemed for a large deep dish or thin crust pizza.
“Lawndale Community Church has been our partner for 30 years,” said Marc Malnati, owner of Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. “With the loss of SNAP benefits impacting so many families, we want to step up and provide support. We have a long tradition of giving back to the communities we serve.”
How you can help
Those wishing to donate or volunteer at a food pantry in DuPage County can contact Giving DuPage through www.givingdupage.org to get connected to a local organization.
Greater Chicago Food Depository created an action alert where people can contact elected officials to demand the federal government fund SNAP regardless of the shutdown.
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