City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and the Greater Chicago Food Depository announce the launch of “Food Security for Life,” a groundbreaking, multi-layered initiative that works to ensure every student at City Colleges has sufficient food while they focus on their education at City Colleges, one that leads them to a sustainable wage and good career that offers food security for life. A 2024 survey of City Colleges student basic needs found that 50 percent identified as food insecure. The initiative will include an on-campus markets stocked with groceries for students, nutritionally balanced frozen meals to go for students and their families, snack items at various locations around campus, improved connection to public benefits, and student apprenticeships. Food Security for Life works to ensure that every student can focus on their academic and personal success without worrying about where their next meal is coming from or how to afford it. Key features of the Food Security for Life program include:

• Dynamic Food Markets: Enhanced food pantries will offer expanded hours, groceries and take-home meals to serve student households; the first expanded market opens in January 2026 at Kennedy-King College 

• Snacks to Go: Launching this fall at all seven colleges and open to any student, free snacks to fuel bodies and minds on campus  

• Meals to Go: Take home meals starting at three colleges this fall (Malcolm X College, Kennedy-King College and Olive-Harvey College); with plans to grow to all seven colleges 

For more information, visit www.ccc.edu.