A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Elgin, Illinois distribute groceries to individuals or families who are in some form of an emergency situation.
There are also meals, free bags of food, personal toiletries and household goods for low to moderate income families from food pantries near you.
Distribution centers can include churches, non-profit organizations, community action agencies, and many other local charities as well as non-profits.
Salvation Army Food Pantry
The Salvation Army is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity.
The Salvation Army operates free local food banks around Elgin, Illinois from almost all of their local social service centers. The charity organization is involved in feeding millions of families each year, with a large percentage of those assisted being children as well as the elderly.
We have located 0 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Elgin, Illinois which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Elgin, Illinois have food pantries for those in their neighborhoods who are in need of food items.
Churches operate with food donations gathered and deliver to the food pantry nearest you by individuals using food drives.
Some churches also deliver food items to elderly who are unable to drive to a nearest community food pantry. Please contact your local church directly.
We have located 9 Church Food Pantry locations in Elgin, Illinois which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Church in the Word - Bridge of Hope Food Pantry
Our Bridge of Hope Food Pantry is open every Sunday morning immediately following the service (about 11:30 AM). Baskets are reserved for just over 40 families every week, but there is more to go around for anyone who comes in. There is currently a waiting list to get one of the reserved, weekly food baskets. If you would like to be added to the list, please contact our office and someone will be in touch. Weekly food baskets are intended to be short-term relief, and we ask that you let us know as soon as your family is able to do without it so we can pass the blessing on to someone else. If you do not have a basket reserved, or don’t need quite that much help, you are still welcome to come and take what you can use. There is always bread, produce, and an unpredictable variety of meat and dairy items for the taking.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (224) 585-9673 to book your appointment.
Address :
430 Airport Rd,
Elgin, IL 60123.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Elgin Evangelical Free Church - Soup Kettle
Every Sunday from 2:30 to 5:30, EEFC Soup Kettle volunteers prepare and serve meals for those in need. And they provide transportation to and from the church for those partaking in the meals.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 695-8812 to book your appointment.
Address :
1900 Big Timber Rd,
Elgin, IL 60123.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Episcopal Church of the Redeemer - Soup Kettle
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 742-2428 to book your appointment.
Address :
40 Center St,
Elgin, IL 60120.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
First Congregational United Church of Christ - Soup Kettle
Available Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed for both shifts and may choose either one. The first shift (4-6pm) involves food preparation and setting tables. The second shift (5:15pm – 6:45pm) serves the meals and assists with clean-up activities. On average, 70 people are served by the Soup Kettle each week. We treat our guests like there were guests in our own home.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 741-4045 to book your appointment.
Address :
256 Chicago St,
Elgin, IL 60120.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
First United Methodist Church - Soup Kettle
Soup Kettle provides meals for any who need them every Monday no exceptions whatsoever, which are served between 5:30 and 6:30 pm in the Small Dining Room [in the basement of FUMC]. Meals are served to between 40 and 100 guests, with the help of 4 to 6 volunteers. Volunteer helpers usually arrive at 5 PM and leave by 7 PM.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 741-0038 to book your appointment.
Address :
216 E Highland Ave,
Elgin, IL 60120.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren - Soup Kettle
Highland Avenue hosts the Elgin Soup Kettle every Saturday evening from 5:30-6:30 p.m. A meal is provided for all who are hungry every night of the week.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 741-5124 to book your appointment.
Address :
783 W Highland Ave,
Elgin, IL 60123.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church - Soup Kettle
A hot meal is served to anyone who needs it every Friday night. If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact the church office. Fridays 5:30pm
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 742-2025 to book your appointment.
Address :
357 Division St,
Elgin, IL 60120.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Westside Church Of Christ - Food Pantry
Our Food Pantry helps families in the Elgin area and the surrounding communities. On each first and third Tuesday of each month, we distribute food enough to feed an average of 120 people. This number continues to increase due to the current economic crisis. If you are in need of food assistance, please visit our pantry on every first and third Tuesday of each month.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 695-1070 to book your appointment.
Address :
12 N66 Randall Rd,
Elgin, IL 60123.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Zion Lutheran Church - Soup Kettle
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 888-2882 to book your appointment.
Address :
330 Griswold St,
Elgin, IL 60123.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Catholic Charities Food Pantry
Resources provided by the Catholic Charity organization focus on addressing food, holiday, and immigration needs.
Families of all religions, backgrounds, and cultures can contact Catholic Charity centers for help.
Catholic Charities in Elgin, Illinois are open to families on a first-come, first-serve basis. The centers operate during normal business hours, and provide walk-ins with groceries, food boxes, and items to prepare a meal.
The food pantries are like grocery stores, allow clients the ability to choose the items they need from the groceries that are available on site.
First-time clients of the food pantry will need to apply, and this is done from a one-page application. An applicant will need to provide basic household member as well as demographic information.
We have located 0 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Elgin, Illinois which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Elgin, Illinois almost entirely by volunteers.
It provides a 7-day supply of groceries and personal care items free of charge to people in need, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Helping Hands is supported entirely by donations from individuals, service organizations, churches, and businesses in our community.
Find a local helping hands food pantry open near you.
We have located 0 Helping Hand Food Pantry locations in Elgin, Illinois which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Mobile Food Pantry
The mobile food pantry program distributes food directly to families in communities around Elgin, Illinois in need during large-scale one-day distributions.
A typical mobile pantry serves 200-250 families distributing up to 10,000 pounds of food. This past year over 6.6 million pounds were distributed through this program.
Mobile food pantries usually visit churches, community centers, schools, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. They usually go to areas where there aren't grocery stores or other food pantries.
Mobile Food Pantry Schedule 2024
Unlike traditional food pantries where you go to them, mobile pantry trucks come to you. Food banks sometimes have an online mobile food pantry schedule.
Mobile food pantry scheduled to visit a community once a week or once a month. There may be last-minute cancellations or changes so recheck the mobile food pantry schedule before you plan to go.
We have located 0 Mobile Food Pantry locations in Elgin, Model.Content.StateName which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry operates around Elgin, Illinois much like a grocery store where people in need can choose their own food. It helps to enhance their personal dignity and reduces waste due to unwanted food items.
It also helps them to be proactive in addressing any underlying health issues. This is our model of choice for food pantries in the future.
We have located 0 St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry locations in Elgin, Illinois which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Food Pantry Delivery Program
Food Pantry Delivery Program delivers food and other products once a month at twenty points in around Elgin, Illinois area. This makes it just a bit easier for some of more remote rural agencies to receive their products. About 70% of members take advantage of the Food Pantry Delivery Program.
Food Pantry
We have located 3 Food Pantry locations in Elgin, Illinois which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Centro de Informacion - Emergency Food Pantry
It serves principally the needy Hispanic population with special attention given to food that Hispanics eat on a daily basis. In 1999 Centro opened the emergency food pantry as part of its outreach efforts to help meet a need in the Hispanic community. The population is especially vulnerable because many times immigrants speak little English, and have substantially less income and education than the population at large, leaving them more likely to live in poverty. The emergency food pantry needs a constant flow of food donations in order to meet the needs of the community. Centro has developed a supportive network of corporate, church, and community resources and volunteers. Most of the people who come for food are adult Hispanic females with small children. The 2010 census puts the Hispanic population of Elgin at 43%, Carpentersville at 50%, and Hanover Park at 38%. Centro has offices in all three communities, and the need for food is evident. Food is distributed by Centro on a daily basis. Approximately 2000 families use the emergency food pantry per year, and the food they receive feeds more than 8,000 (including family members).
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 695-9050 to book your appointment.
Address :
28 N Grove Ave Ste 200,
Elgin, IL 60120.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Food for Greater Elgin, Inc.
Food For Greater Elgin is a large fast-growing Client Choice Food Pantry serving low income residents in Elgin and South Elgin. Just 2 years at its warehouse/office complex, Food For Greater Elgin is currently providing food assistance to 1200 families each month, feeding 5500 individuals in those households, of whom nearly half our children.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 931-9330 to book your appointment.
Address :
1553 Commerce Dr,
Elgin, IL 60123.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Harvest Bible Chapel - Elgin Campus Food Pantry
Providing for those in need in our church and community. This ministry exists to provide for those who are in need all around us—we believe God uses the circumstances of life to draw people to Himself. If you or someone you know would benefit from the assistance of the food pantry, we are here to serve you.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (847) 398-7005 to book your appointment.
Address :
1000 N Randall Rd,
Elgin, IL 60123.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Elgin
Help Residents of Counties:
- Kane
Drive-thru Food Pantries
Since the start of the coronavirus, drive-thru food pantries have become the safest, most efficient way to provide food to our struggling neighbors.
Who can visit a drive-thru pantry?
Drive-thru pantries are open for anyone who needs help getting food. There are no eligibility criteria. Visitors do not need to provide any identification or income statements.
Only two piece of information is asked
- You Zipcode, and
- Number of people in their family.
You dont need to take appointment. Drive-thru pantries are first-come, first served so plan to arrive early.
How do drive-thru pantries actually work?
There are lot of volunteers help at Drive-thru food pantries. While not all drive-thru pantries operate in the same way, here�s how most work:
Staff and volunteers direct visitors to the parking area.
Visitors pull up to the pantry in their car and are usually guided into a clearly marked queue. As people move through the pantry, staff will continue to move the cars forward to get everyone through as quickly and safely as possible.
Checkin.
You are required to fill some information for Pantry's recording keeping.
Food is loaded into the cars.
Pre-packed bags of food, usually full of shelf-stable items like pasta, canned fruit and peanut butter, as well as fresh produce and meats are loaded by volunteers into the trunk of the car.
Pet Food Pantry
One in four pet owners who give up their pets to a shelter say it is because they cannot afford to care for them. Pet Food Pantries are designed to fill the void in the nation�s current assistance programs that exclude the purchase of food and supplies for family pets.
The Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food, for 3 months or less, to pet owners who cannot afford to feed their pets in Elgin, Illinois
Who are eligible for Pet Food Pantry
Pet Food Pantry helps people who are:
- All ages, races and marital status
- Unemployed or underemployed
- Retired, living on social security or other limited income
- Physically or mentally disabled
- Experiencing homelessness or housing instability
Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry
Show up early.
This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.
You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.
Remember all documentation.
Many food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.
This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.
It's just your photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.
Use several food banks.
Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.
For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.
Eligible for other programs?
Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.
They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women and Infant Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Ask about extras.
If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.
Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.
Go on different days of the week.
Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.
Be polite to workers.
Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. 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.
2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?
Specifically, food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to food pantry?
At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. You do not need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry provides three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.
5. How does a food pantry work?
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.