Saint Sabina food pantry marks 2 years as demand for assistance grows in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) — Saint Sabina’s food pantry is marking two years of serving the community as rising demand for food assistance puts increased pressure on its resources and the donations needed to keep it operating.

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For families struggling to make ends meet, the pantry has become an important source of support amid the higher cost of living.

Sheri Donaby, a pantry customer, said the assistance helps families cover the gaps in their household budgets.

“The struggle is real already, but it would be even more of an inconvenience because this makes up for what you con’t have,” Donaby said.

Saint Sabina reopened the pantry in September 2024, two weeks after Catholic Charities closed its food pantry, and began operating it five days a week.

Since then, the number of people seeking assistance has continued to grow.

Rev. Michael Pfleger of Saint Sabina said the pantry now serves more than 200 people a day, an all-time high, as more families experience food insecurity.

“Some of the people are coming who used to be able to take care of their families but now they need to supplement it with the food pantry because their minimum wage job is not enough in order to take care of their family,” Pfleger said.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository supplies much of the food distributed by the pantry, but operating the facility requires additional financial support.

Pfleger said the pantry costs about $500,000 a year to operate. Over the past two years, the church has spent about $1 million to keep it running, relying on donations to cover the expenses.

“I didn’t realize the amount of cost for staff, for rent, for garbage pick for security for all the things we need here, it’s a huge expense,” Pfleger said.

As demand grows, pantry staff members say the increasing lines underscore the need for additional assistance for people struggling to afford basic necessities.

In addition to food assistance, the pantry provides resources such as counseling, medical services and help for people experiencing homelessness as Saint Sabina continues its efforts to support the community.