About Pilsen Food Pantry

The Pilsen Food Pantry was founded by the Figueroa Wu Family Foundation in 2018. The pantry is an extension of the Foundation’s mission to bring anti-poverty services into areas of unmet need.

The pantry has four employees and is supported by many volunteers, including students, health professionals from the nearby Illinois Medical district, and many community members.

Foods available at the Pilsen Food Pantry include culturally-sensitive perishable (fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheese, meat, chicken, fish, etc), non-perishable foods (grains, beans, peanut butter, canned items), and household items like menstrual supplies, toothpaste, and light bulbs.

Where Our Food & Supplies Come From

At the Pilsen Food Pantry, we rely on a mix of daily partnerships, generous donors, and community support to keep our shelves stocked and our neighbors nourished.

Food is sourced through:

  • Daily pickups and deliveries from:

    • Greater Chicago Food Depository

    • Trader Joe’s

    • Imperfect Foods

    • Urban Canopy

  • Occasional donations from:

    • Hunger Resource Network – including "Chicken Day" held twice annually

    • Community food drives

    • Midwest farms

    • Ad hoc wholesale partnerships

Essential items like menstrual products are generously donated by:

We also connect clients to additional support, such as SNAP and other social services.

How Donations Help

While many food items are rescued or donated, a large portion must be purchased—especially to maintain a consistent, culturally relevant selection. We buy food at wholesale prices to stretch every dollar.

Just $8 supports one pantry visit that distributes over 60 pounds of food to a family.

Every dollar donated goes directly to day-to-day operational costs like food purchases, logistics, and volunteer support—ensuring that our community gets the care it deserves.

Expanding Our Reach: Delivery, Public Health & Mutual Aid

In response to growing needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pilsen Food Pantry launched free delivery services in March 2020 for homebound clients, ensuring that access to food remains a right—not a privilege.

Our commitment to community health goes beyond food access. The pantry is actively engaged in:

  • Public health projects, including:

    • Client impact studies

    • Health self-assessments to better understand and respond to needs

We are proud to be part of a broad mutual aid network, working in solidarity with organizations across the South, West, and Southwest Sides of Chicago, including:

  • The Love Fridge

  • Food Not Bombs

  • Gage Park Community Council

  • Instituto Del Progreso Latino

  • UIC College of Medicine Chicago Street Medicine

Through these collaborations, we continue to build stronger systems of support rooted in care, equity, and community empowerment.

Pantry Hours & Donation Contact Information

Food Pantry Hours:

  • Monday – Wednesday & Friday: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM

  • Thursday: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    (Closed on national holidays)

Interested in Contributing?
If you or your organization would like to support the pantry, please reach out—we’d love to hear from you!

Call/Text: 773-812-3150
Email: donations@pilsenfoodpantry.com

Thank you for helping us nourish and uplift our community!