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Food banks in Chicago bracing for spike in demand

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/10/27 .. anks-in-chicago-bracing-for-spike-in-demand.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Monday, October 27th 2025 at 19:39 GMT by FOX 32
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Rising Need in a Tight Economy

The article begins by noting a significant rise in the number of families seeking assistance. “We’re seeing families that previously were self‑sufficient now looking for help, and the number of people in our database has gone up by 15% in the last quarter,” said Mary Kay Lentz, director of the Greater Chicago Food Bank. The food‑bank coalition attributes the surge to several factors, including a slowdown in the construction sector, a spike in housing costs, and an increase in the number of people who lost healthcare benefits that covered food assistance.

Local officials cited the city’s unemployment rate, which climbed to 6.2% in the third quarter of 2024, a level not seen since the early stages of the COVID‑19 pandemic. The food‑bank coalition’s data shows that the number of food‑bank clients grew by 22% from the beginning of 2024 to the present. The coalition also reports that the average number of meals distributed per client has fallen by about 10% because more families are asking for multiple meals per day to meet their household needs.

Expanding Partnerships

A key focus of the article is the coalition’s expansion of partnerships with businesses, nonprofit agencies, and community groups. “We’re actively reaching out to retailers, both grocery stores and pharmacies, to see if they can donate surplus food items before the expiration dates,” explained Lentz. In addition, the coalition is partnering with local farms and food manufacturers to collect produce that would otherwise go to waste. In one initiative, the Greater Chicago Food Bank teamed up with a local organic farm that supplies the coalition with a daily shipment of fresh produce that is then distributed to food pantries across the city.

Another partnership is with the Chicago Department of Human Services, which has increased funding for the food‑bank program by 20% in the last fiscal year. This grant allows the coalition to expand its mobile food‑bank operations, providing fresh produce and canned goods to neighborhoods that lack easy access to grocery stores.

Logistics and Distribution

The article dives into logistical challenges. As the coalition’s network grows, the food‑bank must ensure that the increased volume does not overwhelm the existing distribution network. The coalition has implemented new scheduling software to better manage volunteer shifts and to match food donations with specific food‑bank locations based on demand forecasts. Additionally, the coalition has increased the number of distribution sites from 18 to 26 across the city, ensuring that even remote or underserved neighborhoods have access to food assistance.

The food‑bank also has introduced a new “Community Kitchens” program that involves local volunteers cooking meals for families who cannot prepare food at home. This initiative, which started in 2023, has seen a 30% rise in participation, and the coalition says it can double the number of meals cooked in the next year if funding allows.

Volunteer and Donor Engagement

The Fox32 piece details how the coalition is encouraging volunteers to sign up for longer shifts, as well as for specialized roles such as food packing and delivery. The coalition’s volunteer coordinator, Kevin J. Hayes, reports that 85% of volunteers now receive a training certificate upon completion of a 12‑hour orientation. Volunteers are also being recruited to help with the “Food Truck” initiative, which delivers fresh produce and dairy products directly to low‑income neighborhoods.

The coalition’s outreach to donors is also evolving. They have developed a “Digital Giving” portal, allowing individuals to donate money online, specify the type of food they want to donate, or request certain types of items. The portal also tracks the impact of each donation, so donors can see how many meals have been provided as a result of their contribution.

Policy and Advocacy

While the article highlights local actions, it also touches on broader policy discussions. Local food‑bank leaders are calling for federal stimulus packages that specifically target food security. They also advocate for increased federal food‑stamps and for expanding SNAP benefits to include more food items that are high in nutritional value.

The food‑bank coalition has been in talks with the Illinois Department of Agriculture about a proposed plan that would fund “Food Recovery” grants for grocery stores to collect surplus produce for donation. The coalition’s leaders say that such grants could save an estimated $1.5 million annually in potential waste.

The Human Stories Behind the Numbers

The piece concludes with several brief human-interest stories. One profile features a single mother of three who, after losing her job at a restaurant, began using the food‑bank’s services. She says the food‑bank has given her more than food— it has provided a sense of community. Another segment follows a retired teacher who volunteers at the distribution centers, emphasizing how the food‑bank keeps people connected.

These stories underscore the coalition’s central mission: to ensure that no family in Chicago goes hungry, even as the city’s economy experiences fluctuations. The article concludes with a call to action, urging readers to consider donating time, money, or food items, and highlighting upcoming volunteer orientation sessions scheduled for the next month.

Overall, the Fox32 article offers an in‑depth look at the multifaceted efforts of Chicago’s food‑bank network to adapt to growing demand and to keep the city’s residents nourished in a period of economic uncertainty.