The unexpected closure of two specialty grocery stores last month has affected some local grocery stores.
Care For Real is a food pantry serving Chicago's Far North Side neighborhood that has seen a significant increase in the number of people it serves in recent years.
“In the fiscal year ended 2020, we served approximately 2,900 individuals, while in the fiscal year ended last March we served more than 12,000 individuals.As such, the need for food assistance will increase. It's just that,” Care for Real executive director Gregory Gross told NBC Chicago.
When Dom's Kitchen and Market and Foxtrot suddenly closed last month, it was a huge blow to the organization.
“At Dom's Market, I shopped there almost every day,” Gross said. “Last year, Dom's donated about 52,000 pounds of food to us. This supplements what we get from the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the food we're going to get is amazing. It was something. [like] We had pre-packed food, which was a huge help for us as we were without shelter. ”
Stores still have food on shelves, and most of the perishables have likely been thrown away.
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, which delivers food to more than 800 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, wants to preserve nonperishable food, but is having trouble contacting owners.
NBC Chicago also has not yet received a response from Outfox Hospitality.
“As a food bank, it pains us to see unused and unclaimed food sitting on our shelves during a hunger crisis like this in our communities,” said Greater Chicago Food Storage. Mr. Man Yi Lee said.
Care For Real says it will focus on finding new retail partners, businesses and individuals who want to help people facing food insecurity.
“Thank you to anyone who can help us right now,” Gross said.