Introduction to the Evanston Food Drive
Valerie Kahan stood in the Evanston Township High School parking lot Sunday afternoon trying to figure out more places to send food, toiletries and other supplies she and others had been taking in from hundreds of donors in the few hours they had been accepting them.
The Overwhelming Response
At one point, the sheer number of donors coming to drop off supplies stretched down multiple streets from the school’s parking lot, prompting Evanston police to turn off a traffic light at Lake Street and Dodge Avenue. Many waited more than an hour to drop off bags of groceries, and some offered up extra space in their vehicles so others could leave the line early while still donating. Two dozen locations had already been picked — pantries, schools, parishes, free fridges and others across Niles, Skokie, Evanston and the Rogers Park neighborhood — but they were starting to fill, so other organizations were contacted to arrange pick-up. More than 100 people had also arrived in search of resources, and they left with bags of fresh produce, eggs and more.
The Community’s Reaction
“This is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination in the best possible way,” Kahan said. “It’s overwhelmingly amazing, and we just want to make sure we get food to people who need it the most.”
Rows of donations line the gymnasium floor at Evanston Township High School, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
The Impact of the Government Shutdown
Since Saturday, nearly 2 million Illinois residents — 42 million nationwide — have been without Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits as the government shutdown continues, though two federal judges separately ruled on Friday that the Trump administration must pay for November’s SNAP benefits using contingency funding.
The Community’s Response to the Shutdown
The Trump administration has until Monday to decide whether it will fully or partially fund the food assistance program. President Donald Trump said he would but wanted more legal direction from the court, which won’t happen until Monday, so it wasn’t immediately clear how quickly the debit cards that SNAP recipients use to buy groceries could be reloaded, as it can take as long as 14 days.
The Role of the Community in Times of Crisis
“Coming together is the solution always, and after having our community completely traumatized, this is extremely healing work to be doing, and we’re not only healing ourselves, but feeding our community,” Kahan said.
Evanston residents Valerie Cronkhite and her husband Travis arrived with a wagon full of “baby stuff” and their daughter Cora, though they soon found themselves volunteering as donors were recruited to help handle an ever-increasing haul of supplies.
The Power of Mutual Aid
They had just come from the local Valli Produce where they said shelves were quickly emptying as people cleared them to make donations. “Evanston always shows up,” she said, but this was “insane.”
Volunteer Mariah Fouche (left) receives donations at a community supply drive held at Evanston Township High School on Sunday.
Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times
Building Community Through Mutual Aid
Food assistance was the main draw, but the event overall served to build community and continue to expand mutual-aid networks throughout the city and suburbs. Know-your-rights cards and whistles were being passed out along with food and toiletries.
Mariah Fouche, a Niles resident who grew up in Rogers Park, got in touch with the organizers through rapid response networks working near her Logan Square shop Monarch Thrift Store, which has also been taking in food donations for Chicago Hope Food Pantry, as well as others nearby. Despite it being her day off, and having worked for other supply drives in recent days, she showed up to help the community she grew up in and to meet others who were doing the same work.
Conclusion
The Evanston food drive was a resounding success, with the community coming together to support those in need. The event served as a testament to the power of mutual aid and the importance of building strong community networks. As the government shutdown continues, it is essential that communities continue to come together to support one another.
FAQs
Q: What was the purpose of the Evanston food drive?
A: The purpose of the Evanston food drive was to collect food and other essential items for those in need, particularly in light of the government shutdown and the resulting uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits.
Q: How many people were affected by the government shutdown?
A: Nearly 2 million Illinois residents and 42 million nationwide were affected by the government shutdown, with many losing access to SNAP benefits.
Q: What was the community’s response to the shutdown?
A: The community came together to support one another, with many donating food, toiletries, and other essential items to those in
