Nourish Chicago Pantry
Help Put Health on the Pantry Shelf For Chicago Seniors
The cost of food is soaring, and seniors throughout the city are facing tough decisions. Meals on Wheels Chicago believes that no one should have to choose between food, medicine, and housing. In response, we launched the Nourish Chicago Pantry to bring fresh produce, healthy protein options, and shelf-stable goods to all seniors.
How Nourish Chicago Pantry Stands Out From Other Food Pantries
We purchase our food directly from local food vendors. This guarantees the food is fresh and a rainbow of colors. It is never expired, imperfect, bruised, or back-of-shelf. More than 35 different items are offered every month, from crisp bell peppers to juicy pineapple to wild caught salmon.
The Nourish Chicago Pantry celebrates the dignity of every senior by implementing a client-choice model. In this way, seniors are invited to shop the pantry and select the food they enjoy most.
“This is so wonderful.
I haven’t had fresh produce in months.”
— PANTRY PARTICIPANT
“I’m so happy I found this. Now I don’t have to be hungry this month.”
— PANTRY PARTICIPANT
About the Program
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The food we offer is always grocery-store quality and fresh. Items change monthly depending on what is in season and available. Attendees can expect a variety of fruits and vegetables, proteins, and shelf-stable goods.
Past offerings include strawberries, apples, lemons, celery, potatoes, carrots, spinach, avocado, shrimp, chicken breasts, eggs, butter, pasta, and more.
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Yes, there is a parking lot attached to the Regional Senior Center. That being said, it fills up fast - often before 11am! Paid street parking is also available in nearby neighborhoods.
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Yes, Central West Senior Center is ADA accessible. Additionally, we have volunteers to assist those with limited mobility (i.e. those who use canes, walkers, and wheelchairs) to carry heavy grocery bags.
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Meals on Wheels Chicago has volunteers to both help seniors with bags through the line and to carry bags to seniors’ cars. If grocery bags are too heavy, attendees can ask a staff member for help.
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We do enforce item limits to make sure we can serve as many seniors as possible. However, sometimes more seniors attend than we anticipate, and we cannot guarantee seniors arriving late or past Nourish Chicago Pantry hours will receive every item offered.
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No, attendees do not need to sign-up in advance. Seniors will check into the Nourish Chicago Pantry on the day-of. During check-in, they will receive two items: 1) a color-coded card and 2) a raffle ticket. The color-coded card will hold their place in line so they may relax and visit with friends before food distribution starts at 1pm. During the Nourish Chicago Pantry, we raffle off six wellness baskets with anything from laundry supplies to grilling tools to gift cards. Hold onto the ticket for a chance to win!
While the Nourish Chicago Pantry does not require a formal enrollment or advanced sign-up, we highly recommend getting a membership card for the DFSS Regional Senior Center. The location that hosts the Nourish Chicago Pantry, Central West offers a wide variety of classes, workshops, and wellness programs. Visit here to learn more.
You must be 55 years or older to participate in this program.
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Please bring reusable grocery bags and/or a grocery cart to the Nourish Chicago Pantry. At each distribution, we offer 40-50 grocery items per person. The more bags and better!
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The Nourish Chicago Pantry runs from 12:30pm to 2:00pm on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Please visit our events calendar for upcoming dates.
Check-in begins at 11:00am. We recommend arriving early to check-in. Those checking-in earlier will be called to receive their food first. During the wait, attendees are free to visit, eat lunch through the Golden Diners Program, or attend another class at the Center.
If there is food left over afterward, the Center will continue to distribute it until closing time that day and the following weekday.
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Yes, all items are available to all seniors ages 60 and older at no cost.
“I had no idea they would be handing out this much food. I feel blessed.”
— PANTRY PARTICIPANT
“These peppers are so beautiful that I might put them in my windowsill until I eat them.”
— PANTRY PARTICIPANT
