Food is a basic human need, and we believe it should be easily available–to everyone.

About Us

At Food for Greater Elgin, we've been hearing stories about hungry kids and parents caught in impossible situations since 2010. Food costs are on the rise (along with everything else), creating terrible choices between essential expenses like rent, medicine, shoes, and food. That tension can easily create feelings of inadequacy, shame, and even hopelessness.

That’s why we built a place where all are welcome to shop with dignity.

Food for Greater Elgin is a guest-choice pantry, where hungry neighbors can feel empowered to select the best food for their family.

Our Mission

To provide food security and access to community resources that stabilize lives.

Food for Greater Elgin provides food, empowerment, compassion, and hope to our hungry guests.

  • Food—We fill hundreds of hungry bellies every week.

  • Empowerment—We give our shoppers the luxury of choice.

  • Compassion—We help with intention, attempting to erase any stigma associated with needing food assistance.

  • Hope—We’ll never abandon our guests in their moment of need.

Our Vision

To empower people to escape poverty.

For most of our guests, hunger is far from their only problem: They need a job, housing, immigration aid, or diapers. Our facility provides more than food; we partner with other non-profits to offer additional social services at our pantry. With all these resources in one place, our guests can pursue opportunities and a secure financial future.

Our Values

  • We want to work with community leaders and local businesses to improve the lives of those who lack basic needs.

  • Partnering with volunteers, donors, and other food programs is a key part of our strategy to make a larger impact on hunger.

  • Providing services in a way that is dignified, compassionate, and non-judgmental is of utmost importance.

  • Our client-choice pantry provides families with the dignity of choice.

  • Using donated resources of all kinds–funds, time, food–with integrity and transparency is always a priority.

    To keep operation costs down, we secure food through a variety of sources, purchasing food at a greatly reduced cost. For every dollar donated, 96 cents goes straight to feeding the community.

Our Staff

Looking for career opportunities?

Our Board of Directors

Rachel Traficanti, Chair
Maintenance Coatings

Edward Kowalski, Vice Chair
Sutherland

Adam Hogan, Treasurer
First Mid Bank & Trust

Marilou Pilman, Secretary
Grand Victoria Casino

Scott Richmond, Past-Chair
Ariano Hardy Ritt Nyuli Richmond Lytle & Goettel P.C.

Lindsay Claytor
Bank of America

Kelly Day
John B. Sanfilippo and Son

Robert Langlois
Elgin Cooperative Ministry

John Soto
KCT Credit Union

Michael Storey
Beckatt Solutions

Michael Warren
Rieke Interiors
Brittain’s Car Wash

Our History

In 2010, several leaders in our community noticed a need: A growing increase in food insecurity in Elgin. 

Together, they partnered with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and School District U-46 to form Food for Greater Elgin. What started out as a mobile food pantry quickly evolved into something greater, with FFGE leasing a space in November of 2011, creating the first guest-choice pantry in our area. 

Today, FFGE is one of the three largest food pantries in the
13-county service area of the Northern Illinois Food Bank. We feed about 160,000 people annually, from families to individuals to seniors, and that demand continues to grow.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.