Northern Illinois Food Bank Donations

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.

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.

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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

What We Aim To Solve

Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Strategic Plan: UNITE plan builds on the success of our 2020 plan, incorporates the experiences of human-centered design, and acknowledges that food insecurity disproportionately impacts some neighbors because of systemic inequities including the challenges of racism that have been highlighted prominently in recent civil unrest. Our overall goal is to reach 90% of food insecure neighbors within our 13 counties by 2025. To accomplish this, we will invest in empowering our neighbors, engaging our network, enhancing the food supply, evolving the Food Bank, all while embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all.

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The Rothschilds Are Fighting Hunger For Years To Come

“It’s a joyful event to give,” Elliot Rothschild says. He and his wife, Barbara, have been giving to Northern Illinois Food Bank for nearly a decade. The couple shares their resources with several worthy charities, but Barbara says she feels compelled to support the Food Bank because she believes that people have to take care of one another when we’re able. Read More

Food Bank Money Donations

Northern Illinois Food Bank is grateful for the generosity of our donors and is committed to being a good steward of your support. Thanks to your food bank money donations, 97 percent of our resources go towards programs to ensure our neighbors have the food they need to thrive. Northern Illinois Food Bank has maintained a strong rating from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities, since 2001. Learn more about how to donate money to the food bank & how you can help here.

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Are Volunteers Required To Stay For The Entire Shift

Yes. Our projects are designed for specific time periods so we ask that volunteers commit to the entire shift. For that reason, it is also important you arrive on time. If you are going to be later than 30 minutes or something comes up and need to leave early, our Volunteer Coordinators would be happy to assist you in rescheduling your volunteer shift

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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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.

What Is Snap & Is It The Same As Food Stamps

SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , and is a federal program that helps millions of Americans put food on the table. Implemented on a state level, SNAP provides benefits for families and individuals to buy groceries. In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Human Services oversees SNAP and manages 75 offices across the state called FCRCs that accept and process SNAP applications.

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Dr Morris Is Building A Brighter Tomorrowtoday

Dr. Tim Morris is passionate about solving hunger. In addition to supporting the Food Bank’s work financially, he gives his time at Mobile Pantry distributions, volunteers at our Geneva center, and educates others about hunger. As a professor of philosophy at North Central College in Naperville, a position he held for nearly four decades, Dr. Morris and another professor teamed up to instruct students on the ethics and economics of food and water. He’s knowledgeable about food insecurity issues in the U.S. and around the world. Read More

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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Volunteer Opportunities At Northern Illinois Food Bank

We simply could not do what we do without the help of volunteers! Whether you can volunteer at our food bank 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, food bank and food pantry 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.

Do I Need To Bring Anything To The Pop

No, our Pop-Up Markets are designed to make it safe and easy for our neighbors to receive food during this time. Just come to the pop-up in a vehicle, with some space for our staff to place the pre-packed boxes and bags of groceries. You do not need to bring your own boxes or bags, as the groceries will be already packed in bags and boxes for you.

You also do not have to bring any form of ID or documentation to prove your households 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.

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

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Northern Illinois Food Bank

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.

How Do I Apply For Snap How Do I Know If I Am Eligible To Receive Benefits

Applying for SNAP and other assistance programs can sometimes feel daunting, and some people may get discouraged before even trying. Thats why the Food Banks SNAP Outreach Team is here to help with the application process. By shedding light on applying for SNAP and what resources are available to help, we hope neighbors will feel more confident and be encouraged to seek assistance from this program.

There are several ways you can apply for SNAP:

• Apply online at ABE.illinois.gov

• Contact our SNAP Outreach Team we can help walk you through the application process and make sure your application is submitted to DHS.

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Create A Legacy Of Hope

Tomorrows Harvest is Northern Illinois Food Banks legacy society. By joining Tomorrows Harvest, your gift creates a legacy of hope to ensure that tomorrows families in need will not go hungry. A planned gift can be especially meaningful because it provides long-term support that strengthens our ability to feed hungry neighbors.

If you have already designated a planned gift for Northern Illinois Food Bank, please complete our commitment form and return it to the Food Bank. Tomorrows Harvest members will be listed in the Food Bank annual report. Please visit planmylegacy.solvehungertoday.org for more detailed information or contact or 630-443-6910 ext. 130.

The Circle of Hope is a group of dedicated individuals committed to providing the financial leadership needed solve hunger in northern Illinois. With their support, Northern Illinois Food Bank is able to provide nutritious food to more than 60,000 people each week helping residents who have difficulty meeting their most basic needs. Circle of Hope membership runs from July 1 to June 30 and is renewable annually. For more information or to confirm your membership please contact or 630.443.6910 ext. 116.

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.

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Earl And Kay Harbaugh Help The Food Bank Plan For Future Generations

“We were on the edge, too,” Earl Harbaugh says, remembering growing up in a rural area of Pennsylvania. “Everybody helps everybody in a farming community.” He and his wife, Kay, have brought that philosophy of caring to their own community here in Northern Illinois. The couple moved here more than 40 years ago, and now their family owns and operates several construction equipment businesses in the area. Read More

Driving Donations In Support Of The Food Bank Of The Year

Northern Illinois Food BankNIFB was recognized with a prestigious award for its innovative programs and continued ability to serve the growing needs of hunger in Northern Illinois. Additionally the food bank was preparing to break ground on a brand new, larger and more efficient facility and was looking for donations to help with its efforts.

We developed an engaging yearlong campaign to increase awareness and promote NIFBs accomplishments. A new logo mark created excitement and messaging educated, instilled trust, and conveyed gratitude. A mass media radio campaign with six rotating spots drove traffic to a dedicated microsite that tied it together. Involvement was high, and the success was overwhelmingwith the building completely funded and record-breaking numbers of hungry people being served.

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How Can Snap Help My Family

SNAP benefits can be used to buy groceries for your household, enabling your family to use any other income you may have toward additional living expenses such as rent, transportation or healthcare.

SNAP can be used to purchase:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Other food such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages
• Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat

SNAP CANNOT be used to buy:

• Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco
• Vitamins, medicines and supplements if an item has a Supplement Facts label, it is considered a supplement and is not eligible for SNAP purchase
• Prepared foods fit for immediate consumption
• Any nonfood items such as pet food, cleaning supplies, paper products, household supplies, hygiene items, or cosmetics

Who We Are

Our vision at Northern Illinois Food Bank is for everyone in Northern Illinois to have the food they need to thrive. A 501 nonprofit organization and proud member of Feeding America, we serve our neighbors in 13 counties with dignity, equity and convenience, providing 250,000 meals a day. We bring together manufacturers, local and corporate grocers, area farmers, corporations, foundations, and individuals who donate food and funding, and each week nearly 1,000 volunteers help us evaluate, repack, and distribute food. We also proudly partner with more than 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and youth and senior feeding programs to provide nutritious food and resources. Our distribution centers are located in Geneva, Park City, Rockford and Joliet. Find out how you can get help, volunteer, donate, or get involved atSolveHungerToday.org.

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What We Do

Our Mission: Leading the Northern Illinois community in solving hunger by providing nutritious meals to those in need through innovative programs and partnerships.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is the source of nutritious food, innovative feeding programs, and hope for more than 71,000 people each week.

As a nonprofit organization with a goal of solving hunger across our 13-county service area, we rely on community partners the local food pantries and feeding programs, food manufacturers and retailers, companies, foundations and individuals who join us in our vision for no one to be hungry in Northern Illinois – to make that vision a reality.

We invite you to join us by volunteering at one of our three centers , donating funds or food, or helping us spread the word about hunger in our community at community events or through social media .

Northern Illinois Food Bank is a member of Feeding America.