Are you looking for food banks in Cook County, IL? Below we’ve featured 10 top food banks across the region!
1. Lakeview Pantry
Founded by Lakeview residents Jo Bolger, Kate Marshall, and Barbara Langer-Tchaou, the Lakeview Pantry in Northwest Chicago has helped those less fortunate in Lakeview and surrounding areas since 1970. Eligible clients can choose and collect a range of healthy and fresh food from two locations: Sheridan’s Market on Sheridan Road and La Casa Norte Fresh Market on W. North Avenue. Those unable to collect in person and living within a 5-mile radius of the Lakeview area can even have their groceries home delivered.
The Lakeview Pantry has been successful entirely due to the help and support it has received from the community through both donations and volunteering. You donate money to help run the pantry through their online service. Check out this page to see what and how to donate food and other items. you’d like to volunteer at the pantry, register your interest here. For any other questions of other information, contact the pantry online.
2. Irving Park Food Pantry
In the Irving Park area of Chicago, the Irving Park Food Pantry provides families living in that area with 3 days’ worth of nutritious food matched to the size of the family receiving it. Eligible Irving Park residents can visit the pantry once a month to collect their prepackaged food bag, as well as toiletries or seasonal offer at the time (Easter basket, school supplies, coats, or holiday items).
Volunteers and donations are always accepted at the Irving Park Food Pantry. You can donate money online through PayPal or by check posted to the pantry itself. To register as a volunteer, email the pantry director. To find out how to donate food items or for other questions, email the pantry directly.
3. New Hope Community Food Pantry
Since 2004, the New Hope Community Food Pantry has provided food support for those suffering from food insecurity in Northwest Chicago once a month. Every Tuesday morning, eligible visitors can collect their monthly food bags to supplement their normal grocery shopping. There are also clothing and medical services available online.
The New Hope Community Food Pantry relies on its volunteers and are always accepting new applications. You can find out how to donate money or food items here. Contact them for any other information.
4. Westchester Food Pantry
In Westchester, the Westchester Food Pantry provides food resources to those low income and food insecure families in the Bellwood, Berkeley, Broadview, Hillside, Hines, La Grange Park, Westchester, and Western Springs areas. Once a month, families from these areas can visit the pantry to select a basket full of nutritious foods and pantry staples. For those with pets, there is also a “Wet Nose Pantry” for pet food and items.
There are loads of options for volunteering at the Westchester Food Pantry, which can be found here. Donations of all kinds are always accepted at the food pantry; you can donate money via PayPal or donate those in-need items listed on the website. For all other questions, you can contact the pantry directly using the information at the bottom of their website.
5. Share Food Share Love Food Pantry
In 2015, members of the Faith Lutheran Church created the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry in Brookfield to help alleviate hunger in the 15 surrounding village. Every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning, the pantry opens its doors to eligible clients to collect a range of food from the pantry shelves.
Volunteers are needed to help sort and stock shelves, collect food from local food banks, and assist with client intake. Donations of money and food items are always accepted, as well. Contact the pantry for any other questions or information.
6. Operation Blessing Food Pantry
In Alsip, IL, the Operation Blessing Food Pantry has been providing support to Southwest Chicagoland since 1982. Four mornings a week, Operation Blessing provides prepackaged food provisions to those suffering from food insecurity and residing between the Ashburn and Hazel Crest areas of Chicago.
Supporters can donate to Operation Blessing via the PayPal link on their About Us page. To find out how to donate food items or volunteer, contact them here.
7. Cicero-Berwyn-Stickney (CBS) Food Pantry
Founded in 1987 by Wilma Podbor and Don Zillhart as the Cicero-Berwyn-Stickney Anti-Hunger Foundation, the CBS Food Pantry in Cicero provides food to eligible families living in the Cicero, Berwyn, or Stickney areas. Visitors can visit the pantry every other Tuesday afternoon for up to six months to ‘shop’ the pantry of nonperishable and pantry staples at no cost.
In order to help the 4,700 families in need in the Cicero, Berwyn, and Stickney areas, the CBS Food Pantry relies not only on the Chicago Food Depository but also on donations and volunteers from the community. You can find out here how to donate, including ideas for how to start a food drive or collect food items. Their volunteer page describes what you might do as a volunteer and explains how to register your interest. Contact them to ask any other questions or if you want to host a food drive to benefit the pantry.
8. Mosque Foundation Community Food Pantry
The Mosque Foundation Community Food Pantry in Bridgeview has been operated by the Bridgeview Mosque Foundation since the early 2000s. Every Monday lunchtime, they open their doors to provide food boxes of fresh produce and meat, canned and dried goods, and other pantry staples to any person who requests help, regardless of circumstances or living address.
To find out how you can donate or volunteer at the Mosque Foundation Community Food Pantry, email the coordinator or contact them through the Mosque Foundation’s main contact page.
9. Northfield Township Food Pantry
The Northfield Township Food Pantry has been running since the early 1970s, helping to combat economic hardship and food insecurity in the Northfield Township area. Four days a week, the pantry opens its doors to registered clients to receive an emergency food box of canned and dried goods, including spaghetti sauces and peanut butter.
No tax dollars support the Northfield Township Food Pantry; it is completely community-funded, supported by local businesses, schools, and residents. To help support the pantry and its mission, you can donate money online or drop off any of the needed items listed on their webpage during open hours. You can also volunteer to work any of the available shifts found at this page. For all other questions, contact the pantry via email or the phone number found on their website.
10. Food Pantry of Rich Township
The Food Pantry of Rich Township has been serving the low-income residents of Rich Township, Park Forest, and any homeless since 1984. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, eligible visitors can visit the pantry one a month to collect two bags of groceries full of nonperishable items and pantry staples. Families with babies can also collect formula and baby food, as well.
To help support the Rich Township food pantry, you can donate online here. To find out what foods the pantry needs and how to donate, you can read the guidelines found here. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks; you can register your interest here. For all other questions, email the township office directly.
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