The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago outreach and advocacy for those suffering hunger, malnutrition, or lack of food security is coordinated through our Hunger Committee and through Episcopal Charities.
In response to God’s call for compassion, love, and service, the Hunger Committee:
- Communicates about hunger prevention and relief efforts, using diocesan e-news and other media;
- Supports educational programs and resources on hunger and related issues in order to raise awareness, guide action, and advocate for hungry people;
- Promotes changes in public policy that would make available more food for hungry people and would impact the root causes of hunger;
- Represents the diocese in state, national, international, and ecumenical organizations and activities that fight hunger;
- Participates in local efforts to raise awareness of and funds for local feeding programs and international relief and development.
- Provides small grants to diocesan congregations and ministries to provide direct food relief in their communities.
The Hunger Committee serves as a resource for congregational and regional feeding programs, education on hunger issues, and advocacy efforts on behalf of those with food insecurity. Read the Hunger Committee Report to the 2025 Convention.
2026 Hunger Grants: Apply by August 31
Each year the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Hunger Committee offers support to congregations and agencies that sponsor programs to address hunger in the diocese. In fall 2025, the committee awarded grants to 17 food pantries and meal programs affiliated with diocesan congregations. The grants are funded by the diocesan budget, gifts to the Hunger Committee and other sources.
The 2026 grant application is available here on this webpage and in the diocesan e-newsletter in late July and will be due by August 31, 2026.
CROP Hunger Walks
Representatives from the Hunger Committee help to organize the Chicago CROP Hunger Walk and promote other hunger walks throughout our diocese. The committee is one of the recipients of the 25% local portion of Chicago CROP Walk funds and distributes them to Chicago Episcopal congregation-based soup kitchens, food pantries, and other feeding programs that apply for its small grants each year.
Congregations are also encouraged to participate in their local CROP Hunger Walk and may be able to request a portion of their local CROP Walk funds.
For more information contact the Rev. Gary Cox.
Anti-Hunger Ministries
View Diocese of Chicago locations currently offering food pantries and meal programs on the diocesan asset map below. If your congregation has a feeding ministry not listed on the map or the list below, please contact Jen Boyle-Tucker for help updating your congregation’s listing.
Bread for the World
The Hunger Committee encourages education and advocacy about hunger issues. It is the conduit for the diocese’s membership in Bread for the World, a national ecumenical hunger advocacy organization, and the Illinois Hunger Coalition, which organizes state level advocacy and helps families or individuals apply for food assistance and find feeding programs in their communities.
Bread for the World is the most prominent national, Christian advocacy organization working to end hunger in the U.S. and abroad and a longstanding partner of The Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago has been a member of Bread for the World for decades through the Hunger Committee’s work. For more information contact the Rev. Gary Cox.
Please consider contacting your legislators to ask Congress to give states more time to implement changes to SNAP, as described on the Bread for the World website.