Free Food For Evanston Residents At James Park During Coronavirus

EVANSTON, IL — City officials and Northwestern University have partnered to establish an emergency food pantry at James Park to address the needs of the growing number of Evanston residents pushed into economic peril and food insecurity during the coronavirus pandemic.

A food distribution operation will offer prepackaged food boxers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or while supplies last, every Wednesday through the end of May, although city staff will continue to assess needs on a weekly basis and may adjust operations, according to a news release.

Each box will contain produce, protein and non-perishable items, it said. They will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is a limit of one box per household. To qualify, residents must show a valid ID with a current Evanston address.

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"COVID-19 has not only challenged our healthcare system, it has impacted many residents' ability to put food on the table," Mayor Steve Hagerty said in the release. "I am deeply grateful to Northwestern, Valli Produce, Alderman Cicely Fleming, our Health & Human Services and Administrative Services Department staff, volunteers, and all those stepping up to meet our residents' needs during this pandemic."

Fleming, who helped organize the pantry on the suggestion of Health and Human Services Manager Indira Perkins, said the director of Northwestern's neighborhood and community relations office made a major financial contribution to supplying the planned emergency pantry at the James Park field house.

"I want to thank Dave Davis from Northwestern who actually gave his entire department budget to the food pantry, so that was quite remarkable," Fleming said at Monday's City Council meeting. "I'm going to challenge [University President] Morty Shapiro to match Dave's contribution on that."

Fleming said social distancing would be maintained during food distribution with volunteers and staff on hand to provide drive-up service to residents.

City staff asked residents to come in a vehicle when possible. Participants who show up on foot will be directed to an area where they can pick up a box.

More information about available resources is available from the city's website or by calling 311 from inside Evanston.

The city is accepting financial donations in support of the food pantry at its website.