After 47 years of serving the community, Beyond Hunger is expanding into a new, larger headquarters in Oak Park – a major step forward for the organization. For the past two decades, Beyond Hunger has operated its food pantry out of the basement of First United Church. What started as a grassroots effort has grown into a vital resource serving thousands of neighbors across Cook County, including Chicago and its near-west suburbs. To meet rising demand, Beyond Hunger is bringing food storage, distribution, a community kitchen, and support services together under one roof. The expansion comes as food insecurity continues to rise, affecting roughly 1 in 5 Cook County households. In recent years, demand for services has reached historic levels, driven by rising grocery costs, economic pressures, and changes to benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. Designed to feel more like a grocery store than a traditional pantry, the space will improve efficiency, increase storage, and allow for greater distribution of healthy food. It will also include private areas for benefits assistance and a dedicated space for nutrition education, helping families build long-term food security.

Photo credit: Corey Kessler