Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Library (CPL) announced the grand opening of the Library-Based Food Access program, opens a new window at Legler Regional Library, a full-service food pantry created in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
The pantry provides families in East and West Garfield Park with a rotating selection of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and other essential food groups that support a healthy diet. The program officially soft launched on July 31, 2025. In its first eight weeks, the pantry, while modest in scale, served 786 households and has since served an estimated 600 households each month, demonstrating immediate demand and deep community reliance.
“Too many families in Garfield Park face daily barriers to accessing healthy food,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “By bringing a full-service food pantry into Legler Regional Library, Chicago Public Library and the Greater Chicago Food Depository are meeting people where they are and strengthening the foundation for healthier families and stronger neighborhoods.”
West Garfield Park remains one of Chicago’s most food-insecure communities. The neighborhood is widely recognized as a food desert, with few walkable grocery options and closures of major grocers in recent years. At the same time, 21 percent of Chicago-area households with children experienced food insecurity in the second quarter of 2024, a rate nearly equal to pandemic levels according to Greater Food Depository’s Hunger Report.
Chicago Public Library is currently the second public library system in the nation to operate a fully functional food pantry, positioning Chicago as a national leader in integrating food access and social services into trusted civic spaces.
“For over a century, Legler Regional Library has served as a cornerstone of Chicago’s West Side, providing a safe space for learning, well-being and community connection," said Library Commissioner Chris Brown. "The opening of the food pantry continues Legler Regional Library’s legacy as a place where community members can nourish their bodies, minds and souls.”
The pantry builds on a longstanding partnership between Chicago Public Library and Greater Food Depository. The organizations have worked together for more than a decade to provide meals for youth during summer break and previously partnered to bring a monthly fresh produce market to Legler through the Depository’s Producemobile.
"The Greater Chicago Food Depository is incredibly grateful for the remarkable partnership that has made the opening of the Legler Library Food Pantry possible,” said Kate Maehr, Executive Director and CEO, Greater Chicago Food Depository. “This pantry is more than a place to pick up groceries—it’s a testament to the power of a community coming together with compassion and purpose.
At a time when so many are facing high costs and threats to vital safety net programs, we are proud to stand alongside Legler Library to ensure everyone has access to essential nutrition in a dignified and welcoming setting. Together, we’re not just filling shelves—we’re filling hearts and strengthening our community.
The food pantry has also expanded community partnerships during distribution hours. Chicago Police Department’s Community Policing provides hygiene kits, while organizations tabling onsite include Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which registers families and distributes children’s books and Rush University Medical Center, which connects residents to diabetes education and healthy living workshops.
Looking ahead, Chicago Public Library will expand the pantry’s role as a hub for food, literacy and community connection. Planned enhancements include monthly cooking demonstrations using pantry ingredients, children’s literacy and nutrition programming, nutrition and meal-planning classes and hot food distribution events.
Legler Regional Library demonstrates how public buildings can evolve to meet community needs. The location now serves as a hub for food access alongside mental health support, an artist-in-residence program, youth programming, and lifelong learning opportunities, reflecting a people-centered approach to public space and service delivery.
The pantry is open on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more at https://chi.gov/leglerpantry, opens a new window.
About Chicago Public Library
Since 1873, Chicago Public Library (CPL) has encouraged lifelong learning by welcoming all people and offering equal access to information, entertainment, and knowledge through innovative services, programs, and technology. Through its 81 locations, the Library provides free access to a rich collection of materials, both physical and digital, and presents the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults. For more information, please call (312) 747-4300 or visit chipublib.org, opens a new window. To follow CPL on social media, visit us on Twitter (@chipublib, opens a new window), Facebook (@chipublib, opens a new window) or Instagram (@chicagopubliclibrary, opens a new window).
About the Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, believes a healthy community starts with food. The Food Depository partners with a network of 850 organizations and programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other partners, working to bring food and opportunity to our neighbors across Chicago and Cook County. The Food Depository addresses the root causes of hunger with job training, advocacy and other strategies that generate economic impact and access to living wages. The Food Depository is a proud member of Feeding America – the national network of food banks. Learn more at chicagosfoodbank.org, opens a new window.