Inside Chicago’s Fight Against Hunger: How the Greater Chicago Food Depository Feeds Millions

Step inside the heart of Chicago’s fight against hunger and you’ll find a warehouse humming like a backstage at Lollapalooza—organized chaos with a purpose. Forklifts glide, pallets stack high, and volunteers from every walk of life—retirees, school groups, families—roll up their sleeves to take on one of the city’s biggest challenges: food insecurity.

Here in Cook County, one in five households is struggling to put food on the table. The Greater Chicago Food Depository, alongside a vast network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and community partners, is on the frontlines of that fight. In 2024, their pantry network recorded 2.4 million household visits—a staggering 13% increase over 2023 and 64% more than 2021, eclipsing even pandemic-era demand.

The numbers are loud, but the work is louder. Every Tuesday through Saturday, volunteers flood the Food Depository’s repack center, breaking down bulk food into family-sized portions destined for pantries across Chicago and Cook County. Last year alone, more than 25,000 volunteers packed over 7 million pounds of food—fuel for neighbors who would otherwise go without.

It’s not just canned goods and boxes of pasta. At the organization’s Prepared Meals Center, Executive Chef Michael Goss and his team craft nearly 3,000 nutritious, made-from-scratch meals daily for neighbors at heightened risk of hunger. Think less “mass production” and more “soul food with purpose.”

Behind the scenes, the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s fleet of trucks rolls out daily under the direction of Jose DeSantiago, Senior Director of Warehouse and Transportation, moving food to every corner of Cook County. From city blocks to suburban streets, the goal is simple: make sure no neighbor gets left behind.

And while the operation is massive, the secret weapon is community. Camerin Mattson, Communications Manager, puts it straight: “Our 25,000+ volunteers are the backbone of everything we do.” The message is clear—this fight isn’t theirs alone. It’s Chicago’s.

If you want in, the doors are open. Bring your family, your coworkers, your school group. Come to the warehouse. Pack boxes. Make meals. Be part of a movement that’s bigger than any single person—but powered by thousands.

Because in a city known for its grit, food is more than fuel—it’s a right. And the Greater Chicago Food Depository is making sure everyone gets their share.

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