Chicago’s Food Bank Strives to Improve the Community
Photo by Mateo Zapata for the Food Depository at the Iglesia Evangelica Emanuel food pantry in Belmont-Cragin Jan. 2021
The Greater Chicago Food Depository has been operating in the Chicago community for the past 42 years. In their long history they have never seen an increased need for food like they did when COVID-19 hit; this kicked them into overdrive.
The GCFD, which is located on Chicago’s West Side in Archer Heights in Cook County, is a food bank that has taken it upon themselves to help reduce the hunger issue in Cook County.
The mission of the GCFD comes in two parts: to provide food to their neighbors in need and to strive to end the root cause of hunger in the community - to eradicate the issue. The food bank works with about 100 community partners throughout Cook County. The Archer Heights location is not the only location people can pick up food. Anyone could pick up food at any food pantry, soup kitchen,or shelter throughout the county.
GCFD and their partners are now serving an average of about 50% more people since Jan. 2020. There were even peaks in the summertime of around 150% more people. Feeding America released an estimation that people living in food insecure households has increased 51% compared to 2018.
“[In] Chicago specifically there are communities that have been facing these issues for a long time,” said Megan Bennett, GCFD Communications Specialist. “There have been social disparities that have caused areas in our community to face disproportionate impacts of poverty and food insecurity for generations. They’ve been facing these types of issues for far longer than the pandemic. This pandemic has shed light on these issues Chicago and Cook County have been facing for decades.”
Photo by Vashon Jordan Jr. for the Food Depository at the Sheldon Heights food pantry in Roseland Feb. 2021
Bennett said that she and other workers are proud of their ability to serve their neighbors in these hard times. The staff and volunteers that keep the food bank running do not expect this situation to go away overnight. They know that it will be around for months, maybe years to come.
Bennett also shared that though it has been a really staggering and heartbreaking time for the people across Cook County they are looking towards the positives. Community members are offering more donations which are at a higher need and there have been dozens of volunteers who come in everyday Tuesday through Saturdays, according to Bennett.
“Seeing everyone so willingly step up for their community to help everyone get the food they need has been a silver lining,” said Bennett.
Additionally, GCFD has a team that is based on helping connect people to SNAP Benefits and Medicaid. If people are having trouble navigating the state's website and have questions or if older adults who are not tech savvy need help, they can call the Archer Heights site location to get help with the SNAP Benefits application. Please call, visit the website, or email the team to get help.
If you want to learn more about The Greater Food Depository and their resources, or to donate or to become more familiar please check out their website chicagosfoodbank.org.