Community Connect always does its best to hook you up and help you out with resources you can use… this week, we’ve got assistance for those caught up in the confusion over SNAP benefits.
With the Trump administration and legislators dragging the government shutdown on, today was supposed to be the day that SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits were set to be cut off. But yesterday, two judges ordered the president to use the emergency reserves earmarked to keep the program going during shutdowns, but benefits will likely be delayed up to a week or more… that’s the estimated time it will take to load the cards, if the president complies.
Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order Thursday to send $20 million to help food pantries expand their services to help those in need during the gap in benefits. But that is only a small portion of the $350 million the feds provide in SNAP benefits in Illinois alone so I’m encouraging you to support your local food pantries with food or monetary donations if you’re able. Wisconsin and Indiana don’t have similar plans in place, so if you’re in those areas, that support is even more important.
Many food pantries will serve residents regardless of immigration status and will not require you to provide an identification card, though some may ask to see one depending on the services being provided. Some pantries may also ask for your ZIP code.
If you’re in need, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and The Unity in Community Foundation have multiple locations across the city and suburbs.
You can find more resources at this link and here’s a list of other organizations with food pantries:
- North Side:
- Common Pantry, 3908 N. Lincoln Avenue
- The Friendship Center, 2711 W. Lawrence Avenue
- South Side:
- St. Sabina Church’s food pantry, 1120 W. 79th Street
- Pilsen Food Pantry, 2124 S. Ashland Avenue
- West Side:
- Above and Beyond Food Pantry, 817 S. Pulaski Road
- Nourishing Hope’s El Mercadito, 3533 W. North Avenue
- Suburbs:
- Together We Cope, 17010 S. Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park
- Beyond Hunger, 848 Lake Street in Oak Park
For more information on other resources from the city, visit this link.
Remember, our community moves forward in the best way possible when we all get the help we need and give the help we can... and this is more important now than it's ever been!