Your Guide to Getting Fed (and Helping Out)

With the federal government poised to reopen after a prolonged spending stalemate, millions of low-income families in Illinois may soon see their food assistance restored—but significant uncertainty remains. A bill passed by the Senate would fund the government through Jan. 30, 2026, and includes full-year funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

However, while some states have already received full November SNAP benefit payments, others are still waiting, and experts warn it may take weeks for all payments to reach households.

For the approximately two million Illinois residents who rely on SNAP — including hundreds of thousands of children, seniors and working parents — this means that, even though funding may soon be secured, there is no guarantee exactly when or how smoothly benefits will resume. The Illinois Department of Human Services has flagged that it lacks emergency reserve funds large enough to substitute for federal benefits during a longer delay.

Local food banks, already stretched to record levels, continue to brace for a surge in need and are urging households not to wait until their LINK card stops working — if you haven’t already, now is the time to locate nearby food pantries and assistance sites.

Below are trusted, searchable tools that can help Chicagoans and suburban Cook County residents locate groceries, hot meals, or emergency boxes.

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1. The Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Food Finder

The Depository’s interactive map lists hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, and mobile distributions throughout Cook County.

Search by ZIP code or neighborhood and filter for specific needs—such as senior boxes, prepared meals, or benefit-enrollment help.

Each site listing includes hours, contact info, and eligibility guidelines.

How to Use the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Website 

The Greater Chicago Food Depository’s website — chicagosfoodbank.org —  is one of the most comprehensive, easy-to-navigate guides for finding food assistance. Whether you’re looking for nearby pantries, hot-meal programs, mobile distributions or shelters — or you’re trying to help a neighbor — the website’s interactive map is the fastest way to see what’s available, when it’s open, and what you’ll need before you go.

Below is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to use the site so you can get accurate, up-to-date information in just a few clicks.

Step 1: Open the website

• Go to www.chicagosfoodbank.org
• When the page loads, you’ll see a menu bar with key navigation options (Find Food, Donate, Get Help, etc.).
• Click “Find Food” on the menu. 

Step 2: Access the “Find Food Assistance Programs” map

• After clicking “Find Food,” scroll until you see a section titled “Find Food Assistance Programs & Other Benefits in Chicago and Cook County.” 
• Within that section, click the link/button labelled “Search our map to find free groceries or a meal at a food pantry or food assistance program near you.” 
• The interactive map will open, showing locations of pantries, hot-meal programs, and other support sites across Cook County. 

Step 3: Use the map filters to tailor your search

• On the map page, look for filter options to narrow by type of program (e.g., food pantry, hot meal service), neighborhood/zip code, or days/times of operation.
• Zoom and pan the map to your area of interest (West Side, Austin, North Lawndale, etc.).
• Click (or tap) each pin to open a pop-up with information about the site: name, address, hours, and sometimes eligibility guidelines.
• Note any special details (e.g., whether ID is required, whether meals are served on-site, whether delivery is available, etc.).

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2. Community Kitchen Chicago’s Mutual Aid Map

Community Kitchen curates a grassroots Mutual Aid Map featuring community fridges, neighborhood pantries, and pop-up meal sites across the city.

You can browse the map online or download the PDF version for offline use—especially helpful for outreach workers or residents without reliable internet access.

The listings include independent mutual-aid collectives often missing from government databases. Click here to access the map.

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3. University of Illinois Extension’s “Eat Move Save” Directory

This statewide tool connects users with farmers’ markets that accept LINK and Link Match, plus local food pantries and nutrition programs.

It’s an especially good resource for those living outside Chicago or in collar-county communities where the Food Depository doesn’t operate. Click here to access the directory.

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4. Cook County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Food Pantries

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office maintains a directory of emergency food pantries organized by township and ZIP code.

The list includes church-based and nonprofit partners across the county who provide emergency boxes, hot meals, and on-site referrals to social services. Click here to access the directory.

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Need Help Right Away?

• Call the Greater Chicago Food Depository helpline at (773) 247-FOOD (3663).
• Check the IDHS website for real-time SNAP updates.
• For crisis assistance after hours, 311 operators can direct callers to the nearest emergency pantry or shelter.

Quick-Access West Side Pantries (via Sheriff’s Office)

These locations currently appear in the Sheriff’s Office directory as serving the West Side:

• Circle Urban Ministries — 118 N. Central Ave. | (773) 921-1446
• Marillac Social Center — 2859 W. Jackson Blvd. | (773) 584-4539
• Mission of Our Lady of the Angels — 3814 W. Iowa St. | (773) 486-8431
• St. Martin de Porres Food Pantry — 5112 W. Washington Blvd. | (773) 287-0206

For a full list of emergency pantries countywide, visit the Sheriff’s Office website.

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Find a Love Fridge Near You 

The Love Fridge Chicago (TLFC) was established during the summer of 2020 in response to the strain COVID-19 had on our city’s food system. Because no matter what’s going on in the world around us, we all deserve access to food regardless of background, citizenship status, or mental state. Learn more at thelovefridge.com. 

Austin

• A House in Austin Fridge | 533 N. Pine Ave. 
• The Austin Fridge | 4945 W. Division St. 

Humboldt Park / West Garfield Park

• Oasis Community Fridge | 1520 N. Kostner Ave. 

North Lawndale

• Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church Fridge | 3622 W. Douglas Blvd.

Little Village / South Lawndale

• The Love Shack | 2751 W. 21st St. 

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West Side Mother Caught in SNAP Crisis and EBT Theft Wave

Shanice Bailey didn’t expect to become the face of a crisis. But as federal SNAP cuts collide with a surge in benefit theft across Illinois, the 37-year-old college student and mother has found herself navigating a system that is offering less help — and fewer protections — just when she needs them most.

Bailey lost her SNAP benefits after federal work-requirement changes tightened eligibility under the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act. The law expanded job requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and narrowed exemptions for college students. Bailey, who is pursuing her bachelor’s degree full-time, said she was told she needed to work 30 hours a week to stay eligible.

“Once they implemented the new policy, I automatically was unqualified for SNAP because I go to school,” she said. “I can’t work 30 hours.”

Then came the latest blow. As the federal shutdown continues, the Biden administration confirmed it can provide only partial SNAP funding for November, leaving states responsible for the remainder. Illinois officials have warned residents to expect reduced payments and significant delays as they recalculate benefits.

For Bailey, who had already turned to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to fill the gap, the policy shift was only the beginning.

On Nov. 4, she checked her LINK card in the early morning hours and discovered that every dollar of the TANF cash she was counting on had been stolen.

“I got up at 3 a.m. and someone had already taken all my cash off my LINK card,” she said. “The card was still in my purse.”

Her experience mirrors what state officials describe as a rapidly escalating wave of theft. ABC 7’s I-Team has documented hundreds of thousands of dollars drained from Illinois EBT accounts in recent months through card-skimming and PIN-hacking devices installed on point-of-sale terminals.

But even when theft is confirmed, Bailey — and thousands like her — are left without recourse. Congress allowed the temporary authority for states to reimburse stolen SNAP benefits to expire in December 2024. Without that authority, Illinois is legally barred from replacing stolen aid, whether SNAP or TANF.

“Even a bank reimburses people,” Bailey said. “To be told as a vulnerable person that nothing can be done — it’s disheartening.”

With reduced SNAP funding, ongoing benefit theft, and no reimbursement mechanism, West Side residents are turning to food pantries and community organizations for help. But for Bailey, the crisis is far more personal — a daily reminder of how policy decisions made in Washington shape the lives of people trying simply to stay afloat.

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What to Donate to a Food Bank, What to Avoid, and How to Donate Effectively 

The current SNAP crisis has prompted many residents to step up and give in ways small and large. But Ken Cozzi, the director of the Above and Beyond Food Pantry, says that, while food may be front of mind for many potential donors, cash is still king and often the best thing to give pantries that are struggling to pay workers. 

“We’re able to put the funds where we need them, and often, it might not be, you give me a dollar, here’s a dollar worth of food,” Cozzi said. “Often, it’s, well, give me a dollar and I’m able to pay a driver.”

But if you do want to give food, follow Feeding America’s advice and give food that is “‘shelf-stable’ or nonperishable – you can keep it in your pantry and it won’t go bad. And remember, only donate food that hasn’t reached its ‘sell-by’ date yet.” 

Specifically, food banks often need items like:

• Peanut butter
• Canned soup
• Canned fruit
• Canned vegetables
• Canned stew
• Canned fish
• Canned beans
• Pasta (most prefer whole grain)
• Rice (most prefer brown rice)

Food banks will NOT accept the following category of food items: 

• Items needing refrigeration
• Expired food
• Leftovers
• Food with packaging concerns
• Baked goods

In addition, as Cozzi explains, make sure to communicate with the local food pantry you plan to donate to BEFORE visiting with your donation. 

“Let us know what you’re doing,” Cozzi said. “Let us know if you need any support with your donation, figure out the type of items, and when they’ll be delivered or picked up. Make sure there’s a plan because when you just show up, as much as it’s appreciated, logistically, it may present some problems. For instance, we may not have a place to store it, and we very often have to stop our service to run out to unload vehicles.” 

The Restaurants Giving Out Food to Those in Need

Some restaurants across Chicago are giving free meals to those in need amid cuts to SNAP benefits. In North Lawndale, chef Quentin Love opened his restaurant, The Soul Food Lounge, 3804 W. 16th St., to neighbors affected by the SNAP cuts. Every Tuesday from noon to 3 p.m., he plans to serve free meals to anyone who walks in. Love said he’ll continue doing it as long as there’s a need.

In a video posted to Facebook, Love said restaurant owners can play a direct role in easing food insecurity. A GoFundMe fundraiser Love started recently had secured around $6,400 by Nov. 4.

“We have a food insecurity problem that restaurant owners can fix,” Love said. “If you’ve got a restaurant, open your doors for a few hours and feed people. We have the power, the food, and the responsibility.”

Marvin Gary was among at least 40 people who had lined up even before the doors opened to get a free meal at The Soul Food Lounge on Tuesday afternoon. He lauded Love’s efforts.

“I’ve seen tougher times, but I just think it will work out. It’s just about us sticking together and doing stuff like this,” Gary said. “If we have stuff like this, it will be better for us. I’ve seen a lot of reciprocity and people extending their hands to others. But it’s tough. It’s a war. It’s weird. I don’t have a lot of money, but it’s people who are in way worse positions than I am.” 

Discounted Meals Across Chicago

According to Eater Chicago, restaurants citywide are now offering free or discounted meals for SNAP recipients and others affected by the shutdown. Highlights include:

• Kale My Name (Albany Park) — Free vegan meals with a soft drink daily, 3–5 p.m. (3300 W. Montrose Ave.)
• Chesa’s (Avondale) — Free hot meals every Tuesday, 5–7 p.m.; donations accepted via GoFundMe. (3235 W. Addison St.)
• Edgebrook Coffee Shop (Edgebrook) — Free pancakes and bacon; $5 donations buy a meal for someone in need. (6322 N. Central Ave.)
• Lou Malnati’s & Lawndale Community Church (North Lawndale) — $10 pizza coupons for SNAP recipients, distributed through Nov. 16.
• Paulie Gee’s (Logan Square) — Free kids’ cheese pizzas for children of SNAP recipients. (2451 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
• The Soul Food Lounge (North Lawndale) — Free community meals Tuesdays, noon–3 p.m. (3804 W. 16th St.)
• October Cafe (Norwood Park) — Free meals daily, 3–5 p.m. through November. (6046 N. Avondale Ave.)
• Spoken Café (Ravenswood) — Pay-what-you-can community suppers Mondays, 6–8 p.m. (1812 W. Montrose Ave.)
• Manny’s Deli (South Loop) — Free sandwiches, sides, and drinks for the first 300 SNAP recipients daily; GoFundMe supports the initiative. (1141 S. Jefferson St.)
• The StopAlong (Various) — Free 16-inch pizzas at both locations through Nov. 16. (2210 N. California Ave.; 1812 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
• Penelope’s Vegan Taqueria (Pilsen, River North, Andersonville) — Free meals for children and pregnant women, Mon–Thu, 3–5 p.m.
• Wooden Paddle (Lemont and La Grange) — Free lunches for SNAP recipients, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m., all November.
• Bobby’s Eastside (Forest Park) — Free blue-plate special and 10% discount for those affected by the shutdown. (7321 Madison St.)
• Tazza Italian Ristorante (Homer Glen) — Free pasta dinners, Tues–Thurs, 4:30–6 p.m. (14065 S. Bell Rd.)