The Chicago Chesed Fund provides help when it's needed most.

Food Services

Food Warehouse

Conceived as a “Sam’s Club for the needy,” the Chicago Chesed Fund’s 44,000 square foot food bank provides nutritional supplies for nearly a thousand individuals monthly in a setting guaranteed to protect client’s privacy and dignity.

One at a time, in complete privacy, families “shop” our 14 aisles of hundreds of items—from canned and packaged foods, to diapers and cleaning supplies. And with our 40 foot, walk-in freezer, the Chicago Chesed Fund can offer more families meat, chicken, fish and cheese. Families can choose the food they want—which is especially important for those with special diets, allergies and medical needs. In addition to food—families also “shop” paper goods, health and beauty items, drinks, and other essential needs.

We also supply paper towels, plates, cups, napkins, toilet paper and other paper supplies.

Emergency Food Distribution

We package food (chicken, fruit, cereal, pasta, cookies and more) and then deliver it- or families can pick it up for added privacy. We also provide gift certificates from the major supermarket chains-that anyone can get- so these families in need can purchase food without embarrassment or stigma. The Chicago Chesed Fund distributes around $10,000 in gift certificates for kosher and major grocery stores monthly.

Volunteers pack boxes and deliver them when needed.

Holiday Assistance

For the holidays, the Chicago Chesed Fund gives away twice as much food as we do the rest of the year. Plus, we give candles for Shabbat, wine and matzah for Pesach, candles and toys for Chanukah, honey for Rosh Hashanah, meat for Sukkos, cheesecake and blintzes for Shavuos. All this is in addition to the standard holiday requirements we provide. Far from a “one-size-fits-all” approach, the Chicago Chesed Fund provides every family according to their specific needs.

Quick Food Facts

  • Over 100 families visit our food warehouse each month to replenish their basic food supplies free of charge. And that number is rising.
  • Each holiday, more than 200 families receive food, representing over 1000 individuals.
  • The average monthly food package we give away is valued at over $600.
  • We give around $10,000 worth of food vouchers each month.
  • The Chesed Fund’s food budget for 2009 was nearly one and a half million dollars.
  • The Chicago Chesed Fund is a proud member of the Chicago Food Depository.

For more information about the Chicago Chesed Fund food services, please call 847.679.7799 x 108