CHICAGO (WLS) — As inflation surges and many families grapple with food insecurity, a collaborative community initiative is stepping up to address these challenges.

In a spirited effort, volunteers on the Southwest Side are gathering food donations and ensuring they reach those in need.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

At the heart of this movement is a local restaurant, which has become a hub for a new community-driven effort. This initiative is focused on providing aid to families facing difficulties in putting meals on their tables.

On Saturday evening, a dedicated team of volunteers assembled bags filled with groceries and essential items. These were generously contributed by small businesses eager to support the cause of food security.

“We have over 1,000 individuals registered who are unable to purchase groceries and require assistance,” explained Eddie Guillen from the Community Innovation Center’s Midway Delivery Program. “Fortunately, we have fantastic volunteers, delivery drivers, and administrative support connecting drivers with delivery routes.”

The effort is housed in the El Pollo Cris Cris Mexican restaurant on South Pulaski Avenue in West Lawn, and it is the brainchild of owner Rudy Luna, who started the program with four other donors. Since then, more than 50 other small businesses have stepped up to help.

“So we’re inviting small business owners to join us or start themselves anywhere,” Luna said. “They are helping their community, their clients. We want to give back to our customers.”

Organizers say they are only accepting donations of food and essentials and always need more items to meet the growing number of requests for help.

“Each bag is based on whatever the donors because we have multiple donors,” head volunteer Artemiza “Tammy” Chavez said. “As you can see, they have eggs, juice, oil, bread, toiletries, such as toothpaste, and soap, laundry detergent, rice beans, potatoes.”

The volunteers said these are difficult economic and political times. Nearly 2 million Illinoisans could lose their SNAP food assistance benefits Nov. 1, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, if the federal government remains shut down.

That makes the deliveries more important than ever.

The group has been at this for about a week, but the they say they will continue for as long as they can because it’s all about helping the community.