Can I Get Food For A Family Member Neighbor Or Friend Who Cant Get There
Yes. We know that there are many of our neighbors unable to go out in public at this time for a variety of reasons. If you are picking up for another family, please let our volunteers know how many households you are there to pick up for during the intake process
Get Food
For more information about location-specific mobile food pantry dates, senior or veteran mobile pantry dates, please contact or call 443-6910 ext. 264.
Give Food
If youd like to help the Food Bank provide more food to more people through programs like the Mobile Pantry, to make a donation, or more information about how to sponsor a Mobile Market distribution, please contact or call 443-6910 ext. 264.
Get Email Updates
Sign up to receive the latest news and updates on programs to help feed our neighbors in need and learn how you can get involved to help make sure no one goes hungry in Northern Illinois.
- 273 Dearborn Court, Geneva, IL 60134
- Phone: 630.443.6910
.org |
Northern Illinois Food Bank is a 501 non-profit organization that focuses on providing food to those in need in northern Illinois. Partnerships and donors allow for more than 71,000 people to be fed each week through different programs. Northern Illinois Food Bank operates in 13 counties surrounding Chicago. The organization has four distribution centers located in Geneva, Rockford, Park City, and Joliet, which distribute food to pantries who then allocate the food to people.
Read Also: Middle Georgia Community Food Bank
Can I Bring A Group
Yes, groups are welcome to volunteer with us. Our volunteer projects can accommodate groups of various sizes and are perfect team-building opportunities. Groups of 20 or more volunteers are asked to contact the Food Bank directly at 630.443.6910 or volunteer@northernilfoodbank.org to register. To ensure we are able to accommodate your group size, we recommend groups contact our volunteer team at least one month in advance of their proposed group outing.
We Are Celebrating 40000 Free Deliveries By Doordash
State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia , Northern Illinois Food Bank President and CEO Julie Yurko and State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, carry boxes of food in honor of the Day of Service at the Northern Illinois Food Bank and highlighting Project Dashs impact on the community. Since May 2021, Northern Illinois Food Bank has partnered with Door Dash and Project DASH for the delivery of charitable food in a way that emphasizes convenience and dignity for its clients.
GENEVA The table was piled high with food cans of black beans, a gallon of milk, a bag of rice, a carton of eggs, a fresh cantaloupe, a bag of pancake mix.
All would packed into boxes and delivered free through an unexpected but welcome partnership between the Northern Illinois Food Bank and Project DASH of DoorDash.
Since May 2021, Project DASH made 40,000 free deliveries of food throughout the region to Northern Illinois Food Bank clients.
At a news conference Friday in Geneva, food bank and DoorDash officials and State Reps. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia and Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, marked the Food Banks Day of Service by highlighting the partnership and the goodwill as well as the food that free delivery brings to families in need.
The food banks vision is not just providing free food, but removing the stigma of asking for help for those in need, she said, and now Project DASH is delivering that food free as well.
It was a game-changer
Food insecurity affects all regions
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Is There A Dress Code
Yes, we recommend dressing comfortably and in layers depending on the season of year. Additionally, volunteers working in our warehouse must WEAR CLOSED-TOE SHOES on the day of your shift. Individuals wearing open-toed shoes such as sandals, flip flops, soccer slides, Crocs, Keens, slippers etc. will not be allowed to work in the warehouse under any circumstances. Also, high heeled shoes are not appropriate in a warehouse setting. Long shorts or pants and t-shirts or sweatshirts are recommended.
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Why My Pantry Express

Are you searching for an easy-to-use food pantry nearby? Head to My Pantry Express. Weve helped feed countless families and neighborhoods with accessible services. Supported by Northern Illinois Food Bank, My Pantry Express makes your shopping experience convenient by shifting it all online. All are welcomeno referrals or qualifications are needed. To keep your privacy secure, we only collect limited information such as your name, contact information, and zip code. While these details are not necessary to order, we recommend registering. Itll help make your next experience with us faster. You can choose up to 35 items per order. As you shop, youâll notice dairy products, frozen meats, fresh produce, and plenty more. Select the quantity of each item and youll see it displayed. Start shopping, and please remember to complete your order at least three days before 8 AM on scheduled pick-up days.
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Find Rockford Food Banks Food Pantries And Soup Kitchens Near You
Homelessness In America is a free Rockford directory. We hope you find our list of soup kitchens, food banks and food pantries helpful. If you can help, there are currently a tremendous number of nonprofits in Rockford in need of donations, supplies, and especially volunteers.
We are constantly building the most complete list of resources. Many people and soup kitchens, food banks, and food pantries are in desperate need of assistance. If you can donate or volunteer, please use the contact information we have listed for each organization. If you are in need of assistance, we have also compiled an exhaustive list of local resources.
Before Visiting Your Local Food Bank, Soup Kitchen, or Support Center:
Are You Eligible For Food If You Are Not Receiving Snap Benefits
You do not need to be receiving other assistance to visit a food pantry. SNAP is an entitlement program based on your income eligibility that is not capped at a particular number of participants. While SNAP is based on income, it often only covers the first two weeks of a familys food needs. We encourage our neighbors in need to utilize SNAP and other community resources to ensure their needs are met.
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Northern Illinois Food Bank Pop
JJC is proud to team with the Northern Illinois Food Bank to offer a place for students and community members to drive through to receive groceries. Anyone in need of food assistance during this uncertain time is welcome to attend. No identification or proof of address or income is required to receive food.
The pop-up markets take place on the following Saturdays in Parking Lot E3 on JJC’s Main Campus, 1215 Houbolt Road in Joliet.
Dates:
JJC Police will be directing traffic during this time to guide you through the market. Visitors arriving for the market should enter through the college’s main entrance off Houbolt Rd.
While JJC Campus Police will be onsite directing traffic, it is recommended that:
- Employees and other visitors seeking to conduct college business enter through Centennial Drive.
- Visitors arriving for the market enter through the main entrance off of Houbolt Rd.
In the event of inclement weather a Pop-Up Market may be cancelled. It will be decided by 3 p.m. the day prior to the distribution.
Northern Illinois Food Bank
.org |
Northern Illinois Food Bank is a 501 non-profit organization that focuses on providing food to those in need in northern Illinois. Partnerships and donors allow for more than 71,000 people to be fed each week through different programs. Northern Illinois Food Bank operates in 13 counties surrounding Chicago. The organization has four distribution centers located in Geneva, Rockford, Park City, and Joliet, which distribute food to pantries who then allocate the food to people.
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Do I Need To Get Out Of My Car
No. Neighbors attending will arrive in their vehicles and remain inside during the entire distribution. Staff and volunteers wearing gloves and masks will engage with neighbors through car windows, direct them through the distribution line, and place the groceries inside vehicle trunks or backseats ensuring social distancing and the safety of all attending.
Northern Illinois Food Bank In Need Of Volunteers
ROCKFORD The Northern Illinois Food Bank is asking for your help in making food available for those who need it.
Officials with the local food bank say they have 237 open shifts in their volunteer calendar for next week alone.
They say the lack of volunteers is affecting their ability to meet the increasing need for food assistance.
We are busy with distributing food to our neighbors and with the recent uptick in grocery prices and the pandemic hasnt fully gone away yet, says Todd Reuber, Manager of the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
According to the food banks fiscal report from July 2020 to June 2021, there were 11.2 million meals given to Winnebago County resident facing food insecurity. A total of nearly 4.5 million meals went to food insecure residents in Boone, Ogle and Stephenson Counties.
13.5% of Winnebago County residents were food insecure, according to the same report. 12.3% of Stephenson County residents, 10.6% of Ogle County residents, and 9.5% of Boone County residents were facing similar situations.
Those populations included 13,240 children in Winnebago County and a total of 4,930 food insecure children in Boone, Ogle and Stephenson Counties.
You can find more information on how to sign up to help the food bank on their website.
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Volunteer Opportunities At Northern Illinois Food Bank
We simply could not do what we do without the help of volunteers! Whether you can volunteer once a week, once a month or once a year individually or with a group of friends, family or colleagues, whatever your commitment, every hour of assistance helps us ensure all our neighbors will have access to food in order to thrive.
Thanks to our volunteers, Northern Illinois Food Bank serves more than half a million neighbors each year across 13 counties. Last year, volunteers donated 130,000 hours of their time to help distribute 78 million meals to families, seniors, and kids facing hunger in our community. What you do matters!
A program for those who must serve mandated court-compelled service hours as ordered by a judge.
All applicants must be 16+ years old.
Million Meals And Counting: How The Northern Illinois Food Bank Helps Families In Need

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Volunteers pick and package food Thursday at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva. The food bank, which serves about 78 million meals a year to people in need, is among the recipients of a grant from the Daily Herald Neighbors in Need partnership with the McCormick Foundation.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
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Lisa Manzardo helps pack food at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva, which received a grant from the Daily Herald Neighbors in Need partnership with the McCormick Foundation.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
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The Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva is among the recipients of a grant from the Daily Herald Neighbors in Need partnership with the McCormick Foundation.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
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A holiday meal box is prepared at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva. The food bank is among the recipients of a grant from the Daily Herald Neighbors in Need partnership with the McCormick Foundation.Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
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Don Fleming of Waukegan leaves with his groceries after visiting a Northern Illinois Food Bank mobile site in Highwood.Steve Zalusky | Staff Photographer
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Volunteer John Ford of Deerfield prepares food for distribution at the Northern Illinois Food Bank mobile site in Highwood.Steve Zalusky | Staff Photographer
From the outside, it looks like your standard warehouse.
But inside the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Geneva headquarters, festive holidays are being made possible for families in need.
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Do I Have To Be Eligible For Snap To Receive Food
You do not need to be receiving other assistance to visit our Pop-Up Markets. SNAP is an entitlement program based on your income eligibility that is not capped at a particular number of participants. While SNAP is based on income, it often only covers the first two weeks of a familys food needs. We encourage our neighbors in need to utilize SNAP and other community resources to ensure their needs are met. If you need assistance in applying for SNAP, please reachout to our SNAP Team. Call us on our toll-free at 844-600-SNAP or email snap@northernilfoodbank.org.
Do You Provide More Than Canned Goods
Pantries provide perishable and non perishable foods including: dairy products, fresh fruits & vegetables, baked goods, canned goods, dried goods, and frozen meats. While some pantries distribute these items in apre-packaged form, many of the pantries in Northern Illinois operate a client choice distribution method.
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Are There Any Physical Requirements
The majority of our volunteer opportunities are sorting, inspecting and repacking food for our hungry neighbors. These tasks require some level of physical activity from simply standing on concrete to actual lifting. If you require special accommodations please contact us at 630.443.6910 before registering.
If you have more questions, please read our Full Volunteer FAQ Here.
Dont see what youre looking for?
with your questions about volunteering with Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Get Email Updates
Sign up to receive the latest news and updates on programs to help feed our neighbors in need and learn how you can get involved to help make sure no one goes hungry in Northern Illinois.
- 273 Dearborn Court, Geneva, IL 60134
- Phone: 630.443.6910
Food For Thought Tours
Join us to see first-hand how Northern Illinois Food Bank provides nutritious food to those in need by acquiring, storing, and distributing millions of pounds of food each month. This behind the- scenes tour provides a rare glimpse into all the major spaces of our facilities allowing you to learn more about solving hunger in Northern Illinois.
- West Suburban Center tours are the first Tuesday of every month at noon and 5pm.
- North Suburban Center tours are the first Tuesday of every month at 2pm.
- Northwest Center tours are the first Tuesday of every month at 2pm.
- South Suburban Center tours are the first Tuesday of every month at 2pm.
To make a tour reservation, register online. Registrations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
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How First Free Can Help
There are two ways our church family can help. One is to donate. Pantries receive larger food donations from stories and producers, but individuals or churches can donate food, too. An even better help is when people donate money, because it helps NIFB bulk food buyers offset the impact of inflation and keep shelves stocked. .
The second big need is volunteers, especially during community shopping times on Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 7 p.m. Even when NIFB has enough food on those days, they dont have enough volunteers to keep shelves stocked. So people panic and think we are out of food, Courtney said, but really its just that we cant get it out fast enough.
Other volunteer exist every week, including Saturdays. This is a great chance for life groups, adult communities, youth groups or individuals to minister to our community.
Having a group that could make a commitment to, say, once a month would be amazing, Courtney said.
First Free Rockfords Jeremiah Fund focuses on engaging our congregation to seek the welfare of the city of Rockford. Nominations are encouraged, and grants are distributed through members of our church who actively serve local non-profit organizations. .
Do I Get Out Of My Car
No. Neighbors attending will arrive in their vehicles and remain inside during the entire distribution. Staff and volunteers wearing gloves and masks will engage with neighbors through car windows, direct them through the distribution line, and place the groceries inside vehicle trunks or backseats ensuring social distancing and the safety of all attending.
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Hold Your Meeting At Northern Illinois Food Bank
Need to hold an off-site meeting? Looking for a teambuilding exercise that is both fun and rewarding? Northern Illinois Food Bank can help! The Food Banks West Suburban Center in Geneva offers meeting spaces equipped with audio/visual technology. Rooms are available to accommodate groups from three to 300 people. The Northwest Center in Rockford offers a meeting space to accommodate groups up to 60 people.
Our meeting spaces offer flexibility with seating configurations to meet your needs. Weve provided below photos and capacity information for each room. For companies looking to engage your employees in an exercise in working together, the Food Bank setting allows you to turn your meeting into a teambuilding experience. Group volunteer sessions allow team members to build camaraderie by working together to sort, label and repack food donations for distribution to the 900 partner feeding programs in the Food Bank network.
For more information or to request a room, please complete our Meeting Space Interest Form. You can contact at 630-443-6910, ext. 129 with additional questions.
Can You Visit The Pantry More Than Once A Month

While some pantries restrict visits due to the volume of clientele and available food, you are welcome to visit multiple pantries to ensure your needs are met during the month. Pantries do not share who comes to visit, and there is no overall count of the number of agencies any one neighbor might have used in a given month.
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