West40 Food Mart Demand Increases Amid Community Challenges

The West40 Food Mart at St. Joseph has experienced a growing demand from community members in recent weeks, stemming from uncertainty about delays in SNAP benefits and the recent immigration enforcement actions in the Chicago area that have left many families hesitant to visit grocery stores.

The Food Mart typically services approximately 100 families each week. However, that number jumped to 140 families during the week of October 27. West40 student advocates have also visited the Food Mart to pick up meals and food items to deliver to the families of students they support. For example, advocates visited the Food Mart on November 4th and carried out bags packed with pasta ingredients, cereal, beans, rice, peanut butter, and cocoa--enough meals for twenty families.

Still, the Food Mart's shelves remain stocked and West40 continues to receive food from the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Chi-Care also provides 100 hot meals each week.

The West40 Food Mart is open to shoppers Tuesday through Friday, with two-hour windows each day: Tuesdays from 1-3pm, Wednesdays from 3-5pm, Thursdays from 10am-12pm, and Fridays from 12-2pm.

Food donations from the public are appreciated. Donations can include non-expired canned goods, dry foods, snacks and cereal.  Contact Pam Vujovich via email at pvujovich@west40.org for more information.