Two community organizations, The Kindness Campaign and The Far South Community Development Corporation, have collaborated to create a large-scale food giveaway in response to growing food insecurity in the area.
Food giveaway in Roseland, Chicago as SNAP benefits end. (Photo: CBS News)
Food Giveaway in Roseland, Chicago
The food giveaway will provide fresh fruits, vegetables, and non-perishable items for free. It will take place in the former Jewel-Osco parking lot in Roseland, Chicago, and is expected to run until everything is given away.
Christopher Watts, the Executive Director of The Kindness Campaign, has stated that attendees can expect to receive between 30 to 40 pounds of food, saving them up to $150 that they would typically spend in grocery stores, according to CBS News.
A quarter of the 60,000 pounds of food donated by various businesses will be given away at the event. Some businesses have also donated their space to store the items free of charge.
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Food Giveaway As Emergency SNAP Benefits Ended
Janece Simmons of the Far South Community Development Corporation has stated that the food giveaway is crucial given the end of the pandemic-related emergency allotment of SNAP recipients, according to a report published in Yahoo News.
The allotment was taken away as of February 28th, and many will be shopping with a new budget, which might not allow them to afford healthy items. The effort comes at a critical time, and the organizers are hopeful that this will alleviate some of the pressures on low-income families.
The Far South Community Development Corporation is also leading the redevelopment of the former Jewel-Osco and Halsted Mall in Roseland, creating affordable housing and retail space. The food giveaway is part of their efforts to support the local community, and they hope to continue making a difference in people’s lives.
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