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.
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.
Food Banks In Rockford Il
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Do I Need To Come Early And Get In Line
No, you do not need to come early to get in line. In fact, you will wait less and still get the same amount of food if you come an hour into the distribution. If you arrive before the market opens, the first 75 households in line must participate in a lottery for a number and are not guaranteed early entrance into the market. We cannot let you in the building early for any reason, including to use the bathroom.
An Updated Guide To Visiting A Food Pantry: Myths & Facts

The decision to reach out for assistance with groceries or other expenses can be a difficult one. There are common misconceptions about how the charitable food network works, and a stigma surrounding pantries and soup kitchens, so many of our neighbors do not seek the assistance they need and thats something our Food Bank and network of partners works to change.
The pandemic has impacted many members of our community, and while were excited and hopeful that things are looking up, we will always continue to be a resource for ANY neighbor who needs a little extra help at ANY time. Because the past year has brought so much change, we hope reviewing some myths and facts surrounding food pantries may help provide clarity, and encourage our neighbors to visit our network of over 900 pantries, soup kitchens, and feeding sites.
Myth #1: Pantries service hours have been reduced or suspended entirely because of COVID-19.
Fact: Many pantries have been able to continue serving their communities during the pandemic. Due to additional safety and health precautions taken, many pantries are still able to operate. However, some pantries may have changed the time and dates they are open. We encourage anyone interested in visiting their local pantry to call ahead of time to confirm hours, or ask additional questions about operations and safety precautions.
Myth #2: Pantries are unable to distribute groceries at this time because they operate indoors.
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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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What We Aim To Solve
Northern Illinois Food Banks 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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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.
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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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 Dash’s 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
Do I Have To Be 18 To Shop At The Wcm
No. See previous questions about documentation needed to shop.
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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Get Food Assistance Using My Pantry Express
No one should be hungry. We want to ensure that anyone who needs it has free access to the nutritious groceries.
My Pantry Express is an online food pantry developed and operated by Northern Illinois Food Bank in collaboration with community partners. Individuals interested in shopping with My Pantry Express can visit our website to place an online grocery order for pick up or delivery* at no charge. Its easy:
Right now we are piloting this program in select locations across Joliet, Rockford, DeKalb, and the Waukegan and North Chicago area. *Visit the My Pantry Express site to get pick up and delivery information for your area*.
For any general questions about ordering or signing up, visit the My Pantry Express FAQ page.
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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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.
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Rockford 501c3 Northern Illinois Food Bank In Winnebago County Il 61109
Find a Rockford 501c3 that is here to serve you. Northern Illinois Food Bank is that company. Please reach out to us today so Northern Illinois Food Bank can help you solve any questions you have to meet your goals as a local consumer.
If you own a home or a business in Rockford Winnebago County and you need Rockford 501c3, then give Northern Illinois Food Bank a call now or fill out the contact form below and someone will get back to you and help you with your Rockford residential, commercial, or industrial needs.
To Schedule An Appointment with a Rockford 501c3 just reach out to them now!
Who Qualifies For A Food Pantry In Winnebago County & Rockford Il
When people in Winnebago County arent sure where their next meal will come from, they can turn to food pantries and other consumer-facing organizations for peace of mind. Many of these organizations are non-referral, such as My Panty Express. But youre not limited to food items onlyyoure welcome to items such as apparel, toiletries, baby products, and more. All you have to do is walk in, use the drive-thru, or use a mobile method to order free food.
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What Is The Difference Between A Food Bank And A Food Pantry
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
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.
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
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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:
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. .
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