Irving Park Community Food Pantry

08/24/2026

The Greater Chicago Food Depository made two deliveries to us today, the first in late morning and the second (which was stocked with our protein and bread) in early afternoon. In all, it amounted to more than 8,700 pounds of food, and volunteers stayed available until everything was brought in and distributed to stations, freezers, refrigerators and storage space.
The efforts began our preparations for our Wednesday opening. anyone living in our priority ZIP codes of 60641 or 60618 is welcome to visit the Pantry (4256 N. Ridgeway Ave.,) from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday to shop the full array of food and extra items we offer. That includes all of our grocery options plus toiletries and pet food, as well as a pack of school supplies for any children entering kindergarten through high school (this is the last week for the program).
Those outside of that area will receive some food or they can use this link to find a closer pantry: https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/find-food.
*Please note:* We are providing expanded indoor waiting space for clients due to the inclement weather that can happen at any time.
If you would like to help us purchase all of the items needed, please make a donation at our website, www.irvingparkfoodpantry.org, via PayPal, Venmo, credit cards or Google Pay. You also can mail a check to Irving Park Food Pantry, 4256 N. Ridgeway Ave, Chicago IL 60618. Thank you for your continued support of our mission to be “Neighbors Helping Neighbors!”

08/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at Independence Park Farmers Market Chicago sponsored by GIPNA: Greater Independence Park Neighborhood Association this morning! We were happy for the chance to talk with people, answer questions and accept donations of nonperishable items to help us replenish our stock.
Suzee Bending and Don Mac Gregor were among the volunteers who staffed the booth and showed off our new banner, promoting our Building Our Future, Feeding Our Community program. It will fund a new pantry facility under development now at 4111 N. Pulaski Rd. To learn more about that program, visit www.irvingparkfoodpantry.org/capital-campaign

08/23/2026

Gordon and his grandson Everett helped unload our pickup from Whole Foods Market early on Wednesday morning. The crew at Whole Foods gives us a bounty of food and other items, including seasonal and holiday accessories.
Their donations help give us more variety and ensure we have enough to meet every clients' needs, and they enjoy the extras we get in! We greatly appreciate their weekly donations!

08/23/2026

We're grateful to be a part of the eclectic and vital Independence Park Farmers Market Chicago on the 4th Sunday of every month from June to October, 9am to 1pm.

Want to make an impact? Drop off shelf-stable milk, granola bars, energy bars or crackers. These are items we're low on that help our clients provide for their families.

The last market in August is Sunday and Terri Cavanaugh of TLC For Me will be giving back-to-school haircuts in the park for kids. So, if you haven't crossed that off your list yet, we have you covered.

The market will also be collecting food for the Irving Park Community Food Pantry. The items most-needed right now are not what you might have expected. Please bring shelf-stable milk (from Horizon Organic or similar), granola bars, energy bars or crackers.

08/22/2026

We were happy to welcome back to the Pantry this week Maria L. Cejeda, who is now working with Family Medicare Solutions and talking with senior citizens about their needs to find the right Medicare Advantage program for them.
She’ll have a booth in our delivery area every other week (next on September 2nd). If you’re interested in learning more and are in the neighborhood, stop by and talk with her. You can go directly to her along the alley next to the Pantry and not come through if you aren’t in need of food.

08/22/2026

We received a lot of generous donations from exhibitors at the Lincoln Square Farmer's Market this week! Volunteer Lisa Hendricks picked up a large amount of raspberriers, peppers, pickling cucumbers, broccoli cauliflower, eggplant and cabbage.
Donations came from Los Rodriguez Farms (www.losrodriguezfarm.com), Lafevor Farms and Greenhouses (www.facebook.com/lafevorfarmkankakee), Noffke Family Farms- Lincoln Park and Mick Klüg Farms (https://mickklugfarms.com
We also receive donations of bread, cookies and blueberry cakes from Breadman Baking Company (www.facebook.com/BreadmanBakingCompany)
We greatly appreciate their generous support, allowing us to provide our clients with the freshest food possible each week this summer!

08/21/2026

Julie Halley took over our school-supplies station this week, giving out 20 more packs of supplies of all kinds as kids headed back to school. We have one more week to provide clients in the 60641 and 60618 ZIP codes with supplies to help their children start the school year strong.
Thank you to everyone who has supported the program this year with your donations!

08/20/2026

It was a surprisingly slow day at the Pantry, despite the cool summer weather. Clients came in consistently but in fewer numbers than usual, allowing our Intake team to register and assist clients as they came in and get them onto the shopping floor to select items and get back home quickly.
Volunteers helped 63 clients shop for their 169 family members. Another 21 clients received home deliveries. In all, 84 clients received food this week.
Thanks to all our volunteers who continue to help our neighbors each week to receive the food they deserve to feed their families!

08/19/2026

We're grateful for the support of GIPNA: Greater Independence Park Neighborhood Association and its Farmer's Market.

We're at the market this Sunday from 9am to 1pm. Drop by and learn how you can help us make an impact in our community, or how we can support you.

We're low on shelf stable milk, crackers and Granola or power bars. Stop by our tent, drop off items and say hello!

08/18/2026

Community Engagement Manager Lynne Anderson and Client Service Manager Elvia Esparza staffed a booth at the Irving Park YMCA’s Back to School event last week. They talked with people about how we operate and how to obtain food and gave out bags of school supplies for 20 kids.
Our school-supply program continues tomorrow during our operating hours of 9 a.m. to noon. Any of our neighbors in the 60641 or 60618 ZIP codes who are in need of food and supplies for their kids starting school are welcome to come in!