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Top Box Foods Teams With City of Chicago on Free Food for Elderly
- Bob Benenson
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Campaign Works with Senior Centers to Distribute Emergency Food Boxes
Since its founding in 2012, Chicago non-profit Top Box Foods has been fighting food insecurity by making healthy, affordable food accessible in underserved areas of the city — offering fresh produce and groceries at below retail prices through community partners.
And in partnership with the City of Chicago's Department of Family and Support Services, Top Box is delivering emergency food boxes to senior centers across the city. The campaign, which began on December 23 and runs until January 23, was spurred by recent cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and rising rates of hunger among seniors.
The following press release provides details of this beneficial program.
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Top Box Foods and Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Partner
to Address Senior Hunger
In response to recent cuts to SNAP and rising rates of hunger, Top Box and the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services are working collaboratively to provide emergency food boxes to seniors across the City.
CHICAGO — Today, Top Box Foods and the Chicago Department of
Family and Support Services (DFSS) announced they are partnering to provide support to local seniors by delivering emergency food boxes to senior centers. The deliveries started in late December and will continue through the month of January.
As a result of the delayed issuance of SNAP benefits due to last year’s government
shutdown, cuts to SNAP, and increased food costs, many Chicago area seniors are
struggling to afford food. To address this immediate need, Top Box Foods has partnered with DFSS to provide emergency boxes filled with healthy food to be distributed at six Chicago Regional senior center locations.
"We are deeply grateful for Top Box Foods’ partnership in supporting an emergency food program for Chicago seniors during a time of heightened need,” said DFSS Commissioner Angela Green. “We also thank the dedicated staff at our local senior centers who are working tirelessly to ensure these high-quality, nutritious food boxes are making it into the hands of those who need them most at our scheduled food box giveaway events. This is a shining example of the power of teamwork at the community level, and of Chicago residents taking care of one another when it really counts.”
According to the National Institutes of Health, increased senior hunger is associated with adverse health conditions including increased risk for chronic illness such as heart disease, diabetes, and asthma; mental health issues such as depression; and overall frailty, forcing difficult choices between paying for food or medicine, which further worsens health and can lead to hospitalizations and loss of independence.
The emergency food box program aims to respond to these risks by providing healthy food to seniors and promoting better health and well-being. Between December 23, 2025, and January 23, 2026, Top Box will deliver over 1,200 food boxes to senior residents in six regional senior centers across the city, including Central West, Northeast, Northwest, Renaissance, Southeast, and Southwest. Given that many seniors receive the minimum SNAP benefit of $24 per month and experience increased food costs, hunger in this already vulnerable population is spiking.
“Beyond providing opportunities that increase food access, DFSS is also committed to ensuring that seniors are aware of upcoming changes to SNAP benefits including work and enrollment requirements,” said DFSS Deputy Commissioner of Senior Services Margaret Laraviere. “These changes go into effect February 1st. We also want to ensure that seniors are aware of available volunteer and employment opportunities that can help them maintain access to the vital resources that SNAP provides.”
In addition to working with the City of Chicago to distribute food boxes to seniors, Top Box is able to provide these emergency food box resources through the generous support of donors.
“We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with the City of Chicago and the
Department of Family and Support Services at a time when this support is needed most,” said Connor DeLoach, Executive Director of Top Box Foods. “As rising food costs and reduced benefits place growing strain on older adults, our collaborative efforts help ensure thousands of seniors have access to nutritious food. We’re deeply grateful to the many partners, donors, and volunteers who make this work possible – their commitment allows us to respond quickly and meaningfully to this moment.”