Where to Find — and Offer — Food Assistance in Chicago

As it stands, low-income income families are still not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The monthly payments lapsed Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.

After federal judges ordered the use of emergency funds, the Trump administration said Monday to expect a partial SNAP rollout — but this will also likely be delayed, with no payment dates set. The pause in benefits affects nearly 2 million Illinoisans, including over 750,000 children.

Here’s where to head if you’re hungry — and where to donate if you have the means.

Local Food Pantries

Food pantries are a go-to option for those awaiting SNAP benefits. You can search for your nearest pantries here. These will serve anyone who needs food, no questions asked. You can also plan food pick-ups in advance via Nourishing Hope’s online market.

However, local pantries are struggling with the jump in need. Pilsen Food Pantry saw clients spike by nearly 50% last week and expects to dip into its emergency fund. You can donate to that pantry here.

Meanwhile, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which distributes food to 850 partner pantries across Chicagoland, says it can only provide one meal for every nine provided by SNAP.

To help, you can:

Restaurants Offering Free Meals

As pantries brace for the rush, some Chicago restaurants are offering free meals, too. Among them:

Mutual Aid

Mutual aids offer all kinds of community support, and food distribution is chief among them. Here’s how it all works in Chicago.

There are plenty of longstanding networks where you can ask for help or lend a hand. Among them: