Given federal SNAP benefit cutbacks, DePaul community members may be looking for how to support those in need.  One great option is to assist our neighbors through our partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Parish Church, next door to DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus!

The Parish’s Mother Seton Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen serve dozens of vulnerable individuals and families each week.  Monetary donations are most helpful, because they allow the Parish to be flexible to respond to the needs that present themselves.  Ideally, those seeking to make monetary donations can use Zelle to make a donation to STVDEPparish@depaul.edu.  Alternatively, visit the St. Vincent de Paul Parish website at:  Giving – St. Vincent de Paul – Chicago, IL

If you wish to volunteer your time to serve at the Soup Kitchen, you can sign up here:  Elizabeth Ann Seton Food Pantry and Sandwich Kitchen – St. Vincent de Paul – Chicago, IL

If you wish to donate food or non-perishable items to support those served, you can drop them off at the St. Vincent de Paul Parish office at 1010 W. Webster Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, or at campus collection boxes placed at the:

• Richardson Library 1st floor
• The College of Education building
• The Environmental Sciences department in McGowan South
• The Lincoln Park Student Center, first floor
• The loop DePaul Center 11th floor

For donated items, they must be new in original manufacturer’s packaging/label, be unopened and not expired or outdated.  Helpful items include:

Non-food Items

• Personal care items, especially paper products, lotion, sunscreen, deodorant, lip balm, shave cream and razors, pads, tampons, shampoo/conditioner, black hair-care products, cloth and/or disposable masks, and first aid items.
• Reusable shopping bags.
• Cleaning Products, especially Laundry Detergent, All-Purpose Cleaning Spray, Floor Cleaner, Swiffer Cloths, Paper Towels)

Food

• jars of jam
• jars of pasta sauce
• boxes of cereal (regular-sized boxes)
• Drinks: shelf-stable bottles of water /juice (64 oz. family size or single-serve)
• Condiments and Dressings
• Ready-to-eat meals (shelf-stable)
• Cooking Oil, Butter, Sugar
• Salt, Pepper, Dried Herbs/Spices (garlic powder, paprika, basil, thyme)
• Snacks: cookies, crackers, granola bars, chips, and candy

If any student or other member of our DePaul community has immediate needs, DePaul’s Women’s Center has shared the following resources:

If you or someone you know is food insecure OR if you have resources to contribute to city-side food banks to meet this crisis, below are two city-wide resources that can direct you to neighborhood food distribution centers where you can access food and/or contribute to the food banks. You can donate, contribute, volunteer at both of these organizations.

• ChicagosFoodbank.org – Greater Chicago Food Depository. Find Food Distribution Sites all over the city and Contribute to the Food Bank.
• Online Market | New Convenient Food Pickup Service | Nourishing Hope
• ALSO, at DePaul:
  • *the Women’s Center’s Food Share. There is a food cart that sits right outside of the Women’s Center (SAC 150). Anyone can pick up nonperishable food items when available, and if you can, anyone can contribute nonperishable food items.
  • *the Basic Needs Hub – Student Food Pantry– Students need to sign up and must demonstrate food insecurity or financial hardship. They are then able to access food as well as clothing.