Food pantries across Illinois will give out free groceries to residents from Monday, September 14, through Thursday, September 17, an initiative meant to ease the monthly cost of putting food on the table.
The distributions are being held at multiple sites in Peoria, Chicago, East Peoria and Rockford, with each pantry keeping its own hours across the four days.
Pantries are expected to hand out nutritious items such as proteins, dairy, fruit, vegetables and pasta. Some distribution points may also offer hot meals or personal hygiene products, though this is not confirmed for every location.
Residents are advised to bring identification or another document proving they live in an Illinois county, since the giveaway is intended for people who reside in the state.
Monday, September 14 schedule
- Salvation Army Family Services, 417 NE Adams, Peoria: 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
- Sophia's Kitchen, 105 N Richard Pryor Pl, Peoria: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- West Mark Food Pantry, 1420 W. Moss, Peoria: 9 to 11 a.m.
- East Peoria Food Pantry, 154 E Washington, East Peoria: 1 to 3 p.m.
- Rock River Valley Food Pantry Rockton, 421 S. Rockton Avenue, Rockford: 1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday, September 15 schedule
- Chicago Lights, 126 E Chestnut St., Chicago: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- Meals Ministry, 126 E Chestnut St., Chicago: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Chicago Temple Corps Community Center, 1 N Ogden Ave., Chicago: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Northwestern University Settlement Association, 1400 W Augusta Blvd., Chicago: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Salvation Army Family Services, 417 NE Adams, Peoria: 9 to 11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1 to 4 p.m.
- Sophia's Kitchen, 105 N Richard Pryor Pl, Peoria: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Cornucopia Food Pantry, 402 Market Street, Rockford: 9 to 11 a.m.
- Rock River Valley Food Pantry Rockton, 421 S. Rockton Avenue, Rockford: 1 to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, September 16 schedule
- Chicago Lights, 126 E Chestnut St., Chicago: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- Meals Ministry, 126 E Chestnut St., Chicago: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Northwestern University Settlement Association, 1400 W Augusta Blvd., Chicago: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Sophia's Kitchen, 105 N Richard Pryor Pl, Peoria: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Rock River Valley Food Pantry Rockton, 421 S. Rockton Avenue, Rockford: 1 to 4 p.m.
Thursday, September 17 schedule
- Chicago Lights, 126 E Chestnut St., Chicago: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- Meals Ministry, 126 E Chestnut St., Chicago: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Northwestern University Settlement Association, 1400 W Augusta Blvd., Chicago: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Salvation Army Family Services, 417 NE Adams, Peoria: 9 to 11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 1 to 4 p.m.
- Sophia's Kitchen, 105 N Richard Pryor Pl, Peoria: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Cornucopia Food Pantry, 402 Market Street, Rockford: 9 to 11 a.m.
- Rock River Valley Food Pantry Rockton, 421 S. Rockton Avenue, Rockford: 1 to 4 p.m.
Finding a nearby pantry
Residents who live far from the listed sites can use the Northern Illinois Food Bank's online locator, entering an address, zip code or city to find the closest distribution options. The food bank is a regional nonprofit that supplies pantries and meal programs across northern Illinois.
Organizers advised people to arrive before each site's scheduled start time, warning that long lines are likely to form at the distribution points.
