United Way collects 65,000 pounds of food for 10 south and southwest suburban pantries
A United Way of Metro Chicago event that began as a small mall food drive raised more than 65,000 pounds of nonperishable food and household items for 10 pantries across the south and southwest suburbs Wednesday.
United Way's April food day included donation collection, awards and a luncheon with keynote speaker Bobby Simmons, an Olympic and NBA basketball player from the south suburbs.
More than 200 volunteers sorted donations to be delivered to the south suburban pantries, where advocates say there is critical need.
Kimberlee Guenther, United Way Chicago's chief strategy and development officer, said the nonprofit often sees the highest number of people calling for food assistance from the south and southwest suburbs.
She said that need is exaggerated by recent rising costs in food, housing and gas, along with changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This increased need can be shown by the 95% increase in calls for food assistance in March 2026 compared to March 2025, she said.
"These rising costs stretches people's already tight budgets to the breaking points," Guenther said. "We also know that looking ahead there's real peril for people who previously have had some additional support to be able to survive."
The ten south pantries receiving Wednesday's donations are Blue Cap in Blue Island, Farsouth Community Development Corporation, Free-N-Deed in Dolton, Governor State University, Orland Township, Respond Now in Chicago Heights, Restoration Ministries in Harvey, Rich Township, Thornton Township and Together We Cope in Tinley Park.
Guenther said it's important to continue addressing the need for food assistance beyond a one-day event, because that need persists throughout the year.
"The more we continue to draw attention to the experience of people in our region that are having to make these tough decisions, the closer or the faster we can move to solving them," she said.
Kris Adamik, United Way Chicago's communications director, said the nonprofit will continue to take monetary donations on its website, LIVEUNITEDchicago.org.
"The need is great, and even when residents and partners are stretched thin, they still show up for our neighbors, donating tens of thousands of pounds of food to stock pantry shelves and help individuals and families meet their immediate basic needs," Adamik said.
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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 8:19 PM.