The donated turkeys will be prepared by the Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois and delivered through the Meals on Wheels program to about 200 residents across DeKalb County.

The new Portillo's restaurant, located at the corner of 135th Street and Illinois Route 59 in Plainfield, is drive-thru only. Other pick up only locations are in Joliet, Rosemont and Orland Park.

TD Ryan’s annual food collection drive “Let’s Talk Turkey” gathered enough frozen turkeys and monetary donations to feed hundreds in DeKalb this Thanksgiving.

The items can be dropped off at various locations throughout the Will County area.

Volunteers from the Polo Lifeline Food Pantry helped distribute food items from the Northern Illinois Food Bank's mobile food pantry truck Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.

A long line of cars packed the Illinois Valley Food Pantry during their annual Thanksgiving Distribution on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 in Peru. Nearly 500 families or roughly 1,200 people in the Illinois Valley got a Thanksgiving meal.

A long line of cars wrapped around the building during the Thanksgiving distribution on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 at the Hall Township Food Pantry in Spring Valley. Nearly 500 families will receive food from this years distribution.

Community Cares and Oswego School District 308 come together to help those in need with a coat drive and a list of food pantries in the area.

The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. saw an all-time record with 237 families served during the week of Nov. 2-8, 2025.

The Extension services are sharing publicly available resources to help Illinois families access food and support local donation efforts.

Hands of Hope will be hosting its Thanksgiving Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at 511 Oakleaf Court in Joliet.

An annual Thanksgiving food drive will have the same host but a new home this year, collecting frozen turkeys for an estimated 750 DeKalb County-area families in need. TD Ryan’s Let’s Talk Turkey food drive returns Nov. 21 in DeKalb.

The Joliet Police Department is partnering with the The Salvation Army Joliet Corps Community Center for its annual holiday food drive: Patrol for Hunger! Food pantries are reporting higher demand.

The food drive in Lockport was meant to provide short-term assistance to families impacted by the uncertainty with SNAP funding amid the historic government shutdown.

In addition to the many food banks and food pantries throughout Will County, various agencies and organizations are holding their own food drives and distributions to help fight hunger.

All 17 St. Charles District 303 schools and administration stepped up to support the St. Charles Public Library Community Cabinet with food donations. The Community Cabinet is available when it is open to anyone who needs food.

The Polo Christmas Festival is once again spreading holiday cheer through its annual Santa’s Helper Food Drive, running from Nov. 1 through Nov. 29, 2025.

There is no definitive time when the contingency funding for SNAP benefits will kick in, despite a court order to the Trump Administration on Friday.

Food pantries across northern Illinois have already been anticipating an increase in demand as a result of almost $200 billion in cuts in the next 10 years to the SNAP program.

Here are some of the places to donate food to help those in need and where to find food distribution programs in Will County. Lockport fire volunteers will be at Jewel on Sunday

Abbott and its philanthropic foundation, Abbott Fund, are teaming up with Northern Illinois Food Bank to help fight childhood hunger.

Orders for hams are needed by Sunday, Nov. 3, for delivery on Friday, Nov. 21. Orders for Christmas hams must be in by Monday, Dec. 1, for delivery on Friday, Dec. 19.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has told states it will not fund November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits unless the Trump administration and Congress reach an agreement to reopen the government

The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. set a record for families served in August 2025, RCFP Board Member Cal Jacobs said Sept. 25, 2025.

Holiday Food Baskets include a new coat, hat and gloves or mittens for each child in the household, gifts for each child and food for a holiday meal.

Paul Dickerson is hosting a “Yes, Together We Can” informational and fundraising event from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa St. in Joliet.

The USDA recently announced the termination of future Household Food Security reports. The report has been published annually for 30 years. Its last report, which will contain 2024 data, will be its last.

Approximately 2,500 deliveries are made each month throughout the 13 counties as a result of the Northern Illinois Food Bank's partnership with Project Dash – and 1,000 of them are in Will County,

The drive-up event is on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at New Hope Christian Community Church, 4700 W. Court St. in Monee and is available to all Will County residents.

Those who come by First Lutheran Church in Plano can pick up a box of canned goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen meat, bread, milk, eggs and more.

Will County residents with a need for access to healthy food options are invited to attend two pop-up events for free fruits and vegetables.

First Lutheran Church in Plano will be holding a free food pantry for all of those in need in the community on Friday, Aug. 15.

The River Bend Food Bank will distribute food Saturday, June 28, in Dixon. Distribution will begin at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 421 Peoria Ave., Dixon.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is once again launching its free summer meals for kids program, now through Aug. 15.

ShareFest Will County will be offering a free food drive-thru service on Saturday, for pre-registered attendees. Volunteers needed.

The newly rechristened Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois is working to expand its services with added volunteers and funding. It also asks supporters to reach out to legislators at the state and federal level.

Northern Illinois Food Bank President and CEO Julie Yurko was appointed to the Global FoodBanking Network board of directors.

Beginning May 12, donated pasta items can be delivered to New Life Church at 702 W. Lynn Blvd., Sterling, during office hours from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Scott’s U-Save Tire & Auto Repair in New Lenox offering a set of free wiper blades to customers who donate a new and unopened 40-ounce jar of peanut, soy or almond butter, or a 10 oz jar of jelly.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 18 million Illinois households, many with children, experienced food insecurity in 2023.

Arcadia CEO says cold storage facility in Joliet will supply growing demand for refrigerated grocery items.

Will County agencies collaborate to meet increasing needs of many Joliet area residents facing challenges in gaining permanent housing.

The the FIT Foundation in Crest Hill is seeking donations for Christmas dinners for Joliet police and Crest Hill police.

Collection boxes are located at the Joliet Police Department and at three Joliet businesses during normal business hours.

Lockport Township High School student volunteers helped ShareFest distribute thousands of pounds of food, clothes, and toys to families in need in the lead up to Christmas.

Lockport Township High School District 205 is hosting its fourth annual ShareFest event on Sunday, Dec. 15.

The Joliet Police Department is collecting nonperishable food items throughout the holiday season for its Pack the Paddy Wagon food drive.

Employees volunteer at Northern Illinois Food Bank center.

The South Suburban Center of the Northern Illinois Food Bank donates its meat and fish waste to Big Run Wolf Ranch, an educational facility in Lockport specializing in North American wildlife.

Northern Illinois Food Bank’s partnership with Advocate Condell Medical Center is helping neighbors with chronic disease and facing food insecurity access nutritious food at their monthly Rx Mobile Market.