Chicago Opens Its 1st Food Pantry Inside A Public Library; Block Club Chicago, January 23, 2026

Michael Liptrot, Block Club Chicago; Chicago Opens Its 1st Food Pantry Inside A Public Library

"A West Side library is entering the fight against hunger and food insecurity with the opening of a food pantry — the first of its kind in the city.

Legler Regional Library, 115 S. Pulaski Road, unveiled its expanded food pantry Thursday. A collaboration between the city, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Chicago Public Library, the pantry is the first in the library system’s new Library-Based Food Access program.

Since soft-opening in July 2025, the food pantry has served around 600 households monthly in one of Chicago’s most food-insecure neighborhoods, according to the city. The pantry has grown since its soft launch.

“The pantry prioritizes dignity, consistency [and] reliable access to food,” said Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown at Thursday’s grand opening at Legler. “Not only are we expanding what a library can offer, but we’re exemplifying [Mayor Brandon Johnson’s] whole government approach to Chicago.”"

1.5M people in Ohio rely on SNAP: Map shows which towns will be hardest hit by shutdown; WLWT5, October 31, 2025

Emily Sanderson, WLWT5;  1.5M people in Ohio rely on SNAP: Map shows which towns will be hardest hit by shutdown

"More than 1 million Ohio residents will lose federal food support on Saturday when SNAP benefits expire because of the government shutdown.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps, helps about 1 in 8 Americans buy groceries.

Cincinnati families are facing uncertainty as the SNAP food assistance program has been suspended due to the government shutdown, affecting nearly 100,000 residents in Hamilton County who rely on federal food benefits...

Governor DeWine has indicated that there is no mechanism for Ohio to directly fund SNAP payments, regardless of the source of the money."