Trusted Voices: Addressing Hunger in Chicago 

Families throughout Chicago are struggling to put food on their tables. Rising grocery and housing costs continue to strain household budgets, and pending cuts to federal programs will only intensify the need. For every one meal that a food bank provides, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nine.

While philanthropy cannot fill this gap, the Chicago region is fortunate to have many nonprofit organizations and food programs committed to trying to serve more of our neighbors. From delivering fresh food to doorsteps to programs that double the buying power of SNAP dollars, these efforts underscore a critical truth: food security is about meeting the immediate need but also about developing approaches that can withstand future challenges. Below we highlight how a few organizations are adjusting to meet more of the need:

Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD)
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is actively engaging in advocacy efforts, significantly increasing emergency food distribution to its network of more than 800 food pantries and programs. The organization also collaborates with partners through its Food Equity Ambassador program and engages community members through the Community Council for Food Equity. These groups play a vital role in advocacy, connecting with residents and elected officials to push for stronger policies to make healthy food accessible and affordable to all.

CEO Kate Maehr often emphasizes the importance of people coming together to call for policy solutions.

“Hunger is an entirely solvable problem, and we solve it by lifting our voices.”

Experimental Station
Experimental Station is tackling food insecurity across Illinois through its Link Up Illinois program. The program expands access to fresh, healthy food by doubling the purchasing power of SNAP dollars at farmers’ markets, farm stands, and grocery stores. In its efforts to meet the challenge of coming benefit cuts, Experimental Station is leaning into partnerships and outreach, creating toolkits with flyers, social media graphics, and brochures and fielding calls from across the state. By equipping partners to spread awareness and increase usage, the program not only helps SNAP recipients stretch their dollars but also supports farmers, local food producers, and the broader Illinois economy. 

Urban Growers Collective
Urban Growers Collective (UGC) operates eight urban farms across Chicago’s South Side and brings fresh, locally grown produce directly to neighborhoods through its Fresh Moves Mobile Market, a fleet of converted CTA buses that function as farmers’ markets on wheels. UGC partners with community organizations to make healthy food accessible and affordable, offering programs like the Collective Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription for weekly produce shares and providing Link Match Vouchers offered through the Link Up Illinois program created by Experimental Station, which doubles SNAP benefits. These efforts respond to growing needs by combining immediate access to nutritious food with long-term strategies for education, economic opportunity, and community resilience. 

Market Box
Market Box, a volunteer-led mutual aid project, delivers fresh, locally sourced food to nearly 500 South Side households each month. The program was designed to fill gaps left by government assistance and traditional food aid programs, as many recipients do not qualify for benefits like SNAP.  The organization buys produce and protein in bulk from small Midwest farms and delivers directly to recipients, 86 percent of whom face mobility challenges. Market Box nourishes families, supports small farms, and demonstrates a community-driven system of care that reimagines food access in Chicago

Dion’s Chicago Dream 
Dion’s Chicago Dream tries to meet community members where they are, addressing the “last mile” of food access. This includes providing tailored support for those experiencing homelessness. Food is delivered directly to people’s front doors, and the organization also provides access via community fridges and lockers. The organization serves neighborhoods across Chicago, providing households with fresh produce weekly for a year.