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.
Food offerings are sourced from daily pickups and deliveries from Greater Chicago Food Depository, Trader Joe’s, Imperfect Foods, and Urban Canopy. Occasional donations come from Hunger Resource Network (www.hungerresourcenetwork.org - chicken day twice annually), food drives, midwest farms, and ad hoc wholesaler arrangements. Menstrual products are donated from the Chicago Period Project (www.chicagoperiodproject.org), Junior League of Chicago, and local drives. Clients can be connected to SNAP and other social services.
Although some foods might be provided free of cost/at low cost from food rescue, many stock items are purchased at wholesale prices. For example, your $8 donation supports a visit that distributes over 60 pounds of food for a family. All donations towards the food pantry go directly into day-to-day operational costs.
In March 2020, the Pilsen Food Pantry introduced free delivery services to homebound clients. Public health projects include impact studies and health self-assessments of the pantry clients.
The pantry is involved in extensive mutual aid to the south, west, and southwest side, including the Love Fridge, Food Not Bombs, Gage Park Community Council, Instituto Del Progreso Latino, and UIC COM Chicago Street Medicine.
The food pantry hours are 10-1:30 pm Monday-Wednesday and Friday plus 2-5pm on Thursday (except national holidays).
Please let us know if you/your organization would like to contribute to our pantry by calling/texting 773-812-3150 or emailing info@pilsenfoodpantry.com.
