On a chilly Saturday morning, a significant number of Chicago residents gathered at the West Side’s Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, forming a long line with hopes of obtaining essential food supplies. In these challenging times, the need for food assistance has surged among those facing food insecurity.

One recipient of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shared their struggle, stating, “I’m retired now, so I count every penny. You go to the grocery store, the fruits, veggies, meats, everything is off the chain.” This sentiment echoes the financial strain many are experiencing, with grocery prices escalating sharply.

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In response to this pressing need, the Greater Chicago Food Depository organized nine emergency food distribution events throughout the Chicago area on Saturday. These efforts are crucial as the state works diligently to disburse overdue SNAP benefits.

Despite the reopening of the federal government, numerous Illinois residents remain in the lurch, awaiting their benefits, which might not arrive until later this week.

At the distribution event held at Austin’s Aspire Center, participants received milk, bread, and boxes filled with shelf-stable items, providing some relief amid the ongoing uncertainty.

“When the SNAP program was suspended by the government, we knew that there were going to be millions of people across this country, and hundreds of thousands of people here in the city of Chicago, who all of a sudden would fall into a world of hurt,” said Greater Chicago Food Depository Executive Director Kate Maehr. “We knew before the shutdown, we had record number of people struggling with hunger. One in four families here in the city of Chicago faces hunger.”

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