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Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Public Library, Greater Chicago Food Depository Open Food Pantry in West Garfield Park

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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Public Library (CPL) have announced the opening of a new food pantry at Legler Regional Library. This full-service pantry, created in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, aims to provide families in East and West Garfield Park with access to healthy food options.

The program officially launched on July 31, 2025 and has already served 786 households in its first eight weeks. The pantry offers a rotating selection of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and other essential food groups to support a healthy diet. It has since been serving an estimated 600 households each month, demonstrating a high demand and deep reliance from the community.

Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his concern for the daily barriers that many families in Garfield Park face when trying to access healthy food. He believes that by bringing a full-service food pantry into Legler Regional Library, CPL and the Greater Chicago Food Depository are meeting people where they are and strengthening the foundation for healthier families and stronger neighborhoods.

West Garfield Park is known as one of Chicago's most food-insecure communities. With few walkable grocery options and recent closures of major grocers, it is widely recognized as a food desert. Additionally, according to Greater Food Depository's Hunger Report, 21% of households with children in the Chicago area experienced food insecurity in the second quarter of 2024 - a rate nearly equal to pandemic levels.

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Chicago Public Library is now only the second public library system in the nation to operate a fully functional food pantry. This positions Chicago as a national leader in integrating food access and social services into trusted civic spaces.

Library Commissioner Chris Brown highlighted Legler Regional Library's longstanding legacy as a cornerstone of Chicago's West Side community. For over a century, it has provided a safe space for learning, well-being, and community connection. Brown believes that the opening of this new food pantry continues this legacy by providing a place where community members can nourish their bodies, minds, and souls.

The pantry is the result of a strong partnership between Chicago Public Library and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. For more than a decade, these organizations have worked together to provide meals for youth during summer break. They have also previously partnered to bring a monthly fresh produce market to Legler through the Depository's Producemobile.

Kate Maehr, Executive Director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, expressed her gratitude for this partnership that has made the opening of the Legler Library Food Pantry possible. She believes that this pantry is more than just a place to pick up groceries - it is a testament to the power of a community coming together with compassion and purpose. Maehr also highlighted how this pantry is not just filling shelves but also filling hearts and strengthening the community.

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In addition to providing food, the pantry has also expanded its partnerships during distribution hours. The Chicago Police Department's Community Policing provides hygiene kits, while organizations such as Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and Rush University Medical Center are present on-site to offer services such as registering families for children's books and connecting residents to diabetes education and healthy living workshops.

Looking ahead, Chicago Public Library plans to expand the pantry's role as a hub for food, literacy, and community connection. Legler Regional Library serves as an example of how public buildings can evolve to meet community needs. It now offers not only food access but also mental health support, an artist-in-residence program, youth programming, and lifelong learning opportunities - reflecting a people-centered approach to public space and service delivery.

The pantry is open on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Those interested in learning more can visit https://chi.gov/leglerpantry for more information.

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