Chicago food banks hit by sudden closures of Dom’s and Foxtrot – NBC Chicago

The unexpected closure of two specialty stores last month has consequences for some local food banks.

Care For Real is a food bank that serves Chicago’s Far North Side neighborhoods and has seen a significant spike in the number of people they serve in recent years.

“In our fiscal year ending 2020, we served approximately 2,900 individuals, but in our fiscal year ending last March, we served more than 12,000. So the need for food assistance continues to increase,” Gregory Gross, executive director of Care For Real, told NBC Chicago.

When Dom’s Kitchen and Market and Foxtrot suddenly closed last month, it was a major blow to the organization.

“Dom’s Market, we went there almost every day of the week,” Gross said. “Last year, Dom’s donated about 52,000 pounds of food to us. That was a great addition to what we get from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the food that we would get is things (like) pre-packaged foods and that was a great assistant for our people who are unhoused.”

Food is still on the shelves in stores, and most perishable items have likely ended up in the trash.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, which provides food items to more than 800 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, is hoping to rescue non-perishable items, although they have been unable to reach owners.

NBC Chicago has also not yet received a response from Outfox Hospitality.

“It pains us as a food bank to see unused and unclaimed food on the shelves when there is such a hunger crisis in the community,” said Man-Yee Lee of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Care For Real says it will focus on finding new retail partners, companies or individuals who want to help people facing food insecurity.

“We appreciate anyone who can help us now,” Gross said.