Indivisible Sauk Valley hosted a No Kings protest and food drive Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Sterling.

President Donald Trump’s administration said Monday that it will partially fund SNAP after a pair of judges’ rulings required it to keep the food aid program running

Indivisible Sauk Valley organized a No Kings protest and food drive Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Sterling.

People across the country formed long lines for free meals and groceries at food pantries and drive-through giveaways Saturday, after monthly benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, were cut off

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

The Greater Chicago Food Depository will set up temporary distribution sites in areas with the highest concentration of SNAP participants starting Saturday

From can opener collection drives and Family Service Agency programs to local businesses stepping up, here are some other ways you can help keep DeKalb County locals fed amid SNAP uncertainty.

Already struggling with growing numbers of people in need of food assistance, Sauk Valley-area food pantries are now bracing for the even greater numbers expected in the wake of SNAP benefits ending Nov. 1, 2025, as part of the federal government shutdown.

Multiple free food options exist across DeKalb County to serve those in need regularly. Here's a list:

"Don’t feel like you can’t come and get food:" With one day to go before a potential federal cut-off of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, DeKalb County area food pantries are preparing for what some said could be an influx of local families in need.

Sauk Valley-area food pantries are expecting an uptick in need when SNAP benefits are suspended Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.

The Illinois Valley Food Pantry is gearing up for the food assistance shutdown. Beginning Nov. 1, food assistance used by more than 40 million Americans will not be distributed from November due to the ongoing US government shutdown. Food shortage will worsen local food pantries due to the the shutdown.

West Suburban Community Pantry is turning to DoorDash to accommodate a rise in no-shows for pantry food shopping appointments

Social service leaders from Cook and DuPage counties warned of “more people” and “less food” if Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments are halted in November as a result of the government shutdown.

Menards in Sterling is serving as a food drop-off site through the month of October.

Join the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for its annual Stuff the Squad event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 15, in Dixon.

The West Suburban Community Pantry in Woodridge is working diligently to meet a rising demand

The Plano Food Pantry is offering free food pick-up on Oct. 17 at the First Lutheran Church in Plano.

This holiday season, Prescott Brothers Ford in Rochelle, together with 102.3 The Coyote and Superhits 93.5, is proud to once again host its annual 2-Ton Food Drive on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, benefiting the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry.

Rochelle Foods recently presented a $5,000 donation to the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry.

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.

Rochelle Foods presented a donation of $5,000 to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.

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 Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department will be hosting a residential electronics recycling and food drive event Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

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,

Polo Women’s Club is hosting a food drive on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8 a.m. until noon at Polo Fresh Food Market on Division Street in Polo.

State Rep. Anne Stava [D-Naperville] has obtained two state grants totaling $545,000  in support of the West Suburban Community Pantry

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.

Let’s Ketchup, a local nonprofit dedicated to eliminating school lunch debt and keeping Care Closets stocked with essentials, will again host a Family Festival this Saturday.

Food pantries across northern Illinois anticipate an increase in demand as a result of almost $200 billion in cuts in the next 10 years to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The cuts are part of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.”

Northern Illinois Food Bank is partnering with Woody’s Apple Orchard in Plano throughout September to mark Hunger Action Month.

The pastor at a rural Sterling church is seeking to make its annual Farm Heritage Show just like how the church acts as a beacon of light to the community: helping those in need become mentally healthy and hungry.

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.

Area food pantries anticipate the need for services will increase as the number of food-insecure individuals continues to rise.

State and local governments may have to pick up the costs of feeding the hungry to make up for federal cuts, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten said Thursday during a roundtable discussion in Geneva.

Keeping food insecurity from being an issue in north central Lee County is the mission of a dedicated group of volunteers who keep the local food pantry full to stave off hunger.

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.

Macy Michelini, of Peru, donated 400 pounds of beef to the food pantry through her"Beef Kind and Healthy" distribution. Michelini did a project where she had to raise a cow, process it and distribute it to the local food pantry.

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

An exterior view of the possible future location of the Illinois Valley Food Pantry, located at 4133 Progress Road in Peru. Mayor Ken Kolowski said the pantry plans to make a presentation to the council at a later date. The council referred a petition received from the food pantry and approval of the special use to planning/zoning during Monday night's council meeting. The current building housed Hoover's Manufacturing Company.

The downtown Kankakee Salvation Army is overwhelmed by a cash shortage and is having greater troubles serving those in need.

The Salvation Army of Kankakee is requesting donations for its Summer Fundraiser event, running through July.

Community members are invited to attend the Plano Food Pantry on Friday, May 16, from 6 – 7:30 p.m.

14 years ago when Jim McCormack was studying theology in the shadow of the Vatican in Rome, he never thought he’d live to see an American pope. Upon learning the new pope emanates from the ‘Windy City,’ McCormack, a Vicar at St. Patrick Parish in Yorkville, said he is thrilled.

The Joliet Township held a ribbon-cutting Monday for its renovated Forest Park Community Center Food Pantry at 1017 Woodruff Road, Joliet.

Joliet Township purchased the Forest Park Community Center and its surrounding properties in 2024.

The Hall and St. Bede baseball teams played a game at Schweickert Stadium on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Peru. The teams also held a food drive to collect donations to benefit the Hall Township Food Pantry. The teams donated a total of 1,179 pounds of food.