Chicago food pantries deal with increased demand even as potential cuts loom

A Chicago food pantry is marking its one-year anniversary this week, which comes as some government assistance programs face steep cuts and bigger demand.

Natasha McClendon says she likes picking out groceries at the St. Sabina Food Pantry.

“It’s warm and welcoming,” she said. “I love the way I am treated here.”

Employed part-time, Natasha says she will likely be leaning on this pantry a lot more, after changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It provides low-income people and families with financial assistance to pay for groceries.

“There is a possibility my benefits will be cut,” she said. “Or I may lose them and that is not good. I have two young children to feed and clothe every day, and my husband is disabled, so he cannot work.”

The Illinois Department of Human Services estimates that 360,000 people are at risk of losing eligibility for SNAP, largely due to stricter work requirements that will soon be imposed as part of a Republican-led budget bill known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” 

WIC, a food aid program that supports millions of low-income mothers and their young children, recently received a $300 million infusion from the Trump administration, alleviating some anxiety that it would run out of money during the government shutdown.

Father Michael Pfleger says cuts to federal programs and so much uncertainty is pushing this pantry to the limits.

“We are going to run out of food,” he said. “When SNAP cuts go into full effect, we may double the amount of people coming here. The people that are coming here, 80% of them are coming to feed their children and their families. Nobody should be hungry in this country.”

In a statement, the Greater Chicago Food Depository told us in part:

“The longer the shutdown persists, the greater the risk that these benefits will be disrupted, threatening the wellbeing of those who rely on public food assistance. We continue to urge elected leaders to reopen the government and fund critical safety net programs that address poverty and hunger.”