St. Sabina asking public for donations to help keep social service center open
Father Pfleger says they see about 200 people each day at the St. Sabina Service Center amid the high cost of living.
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Father Pfleger says they see about 200 people each day at the St. Sabina Service Center amid the high cost of living.
With SNAP benefits due to lapse in just hours, food banks in Chicago said they are seeing massive surges in demand from people who don't know if they'll get their food stamps next month.
President Trump's recent budget plan makes big cuts to the SNAP program. In the Chicago area, that change has some food pantries, and the food banks that serve them, preparing to fill the gap.
Nearly 2 million Illinois residents rely on the Supplemental Food Assistance Program, or SNAP, to put food on the table. With federal cuts to the program, some food pantries, and the food banks that serve them, are preparing to fill the gap. Sara Machi reports.
Many local food pantry organizers and farmers attending the Chicago Food Justice Summit said there's a sense of panic amid federal funding cuts.
The move will mean less fresh produce for those facing food insecurity, and will also impact nearby farmers.
Chicago area food pantries could lose millions in federal funding as the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to freeze over $1 billion that pay for two popular programs. Sabrina Franza reports.
The move will mean less fresh produce for those facing food insecurity, and will also impact nearby farmers. Sabrina Franza reports.
"Our greatest concern is that people may choose not to come to us for help out of fear," said Northern Illinois Food Bank CEO Julie Yurko.
With inflation fueling the crisis, food banks have become a critical resource in the fight against hunger.
Food banks in Chicago's western suburbs were among those trying to raise awareness and solve the hunger crisis across their communities. An army of volunteers was hard at work. Attention to detail is vital, and the mission couldn't be more noble.
Public schools in Wisconsin are turning to indoor gardens to get fresh produce to their cafeteria tables.
Those who get their food bank orders delivered don't have to pay for delivery. The drivers are paid by the food bank and through a grant from DoorDash.
Students cheered as a teacher started a chain reaction after setting up the cereal boxes like dominos.
Many pantries are struggling to keep up with demand and stock some of the most commonly donated items.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds packed boxes full of food on Tuesday.
More than 240 volunteers will spend the day bagging fresh produce to distribute to area food pantries and feeding programs.
It is a massive operation meant to help families struggling with food insecurity.
On Thursday, more than 100 volunteers at the Tinley Park Convention Center will sort all the food collected before distributing it to 10 different food pantries.
The Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Villa Park is already seeing an increase in need due to inflation.
The pantry will also upgrade the online ordering experience to make it more convenient for people to order and then pick up their groceries.
"It's just important for me because, of course, this day is just to give back and appreciate what I have."
"We don't really have any extra to spend on food."
