Access to good food is a right, not a privilege. We're dedicated to making that right a reality for all Chicagoans. 1 in 7 people in Chicago regularly struggle to access nutritious food — we're working to make sure that great, locally- and sustainably-sourced food is available and accessible to all, no matter where you live or what you make.
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GCM For AllExpanding access to nutritious, local, sustainably-produced food is one of the core pillars of Green City Market's (GCM) mission — that's why we welcome and triple Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (also known as Link in Illinois or EBT nationally) at all our farmers' markets, thanks to our generous donors and our partnership with Experimental Station and their Link Up Illinois Program. Shoppers with SNAP/Link cards receive triple the value of their benefits up to $25 at Green City Market. That means when folks spend $25 of SNAP benefits using a Link card, they receive $75 to spend: $50 in GCM For All vouchers or tokens that may be used on any SNAP-eligible item and $25 in Link Up Illinois vouchers that are restricted to fruits and vegetables only. GCM will continue to double the value of any benefits spent past $25 on a single market day. Green City Market’s SNAP matching is available at all three of our farmers' markets: GCM Lincoln Park (April - November), GCM West Loop (May - November), and GCM Avondale (December - March). |
Nourishing NeighborsSince 2012, Green City Market has partnered with food pantries like Nourishing Hope (formerly Lakeview Pantry) and the Love Fridge to recover food grown by local, sustainable farmers and provide it to Chicagoans facing food insecurity all over the city. Since 2020, Green City Market has supplemented these donations with produce grown in our 5,000 square foot teaching garden. At the end of each market, our farmers donate unsold produce, herbs, meats, eggs, dairy products, bread, and non-perishable items — food that otherwise may have gone to waste — directly to feed our neighbors facing food insecurity. In a country where 80 billion pounds of food are wasted each year while more than 35 million people experience hunger, Green City Market is committed to recovering quality food before it ends up in the landfill (or the compost bin) and directing it to those who need it most. |
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Farm to FridgeAt Green City Market, we recognize that many small businesses don’t have the capacity to donate on a large scale. Through our Farm to Fridge program, Green City Market compensates farmers for their products which we then donate to food banks, fridges, and pantries in the Chicagoland area. |
YOUR IMPACT
We're a market on a mission! Here's what our community of supporters makes possible:
161zip codes served through GCM's SNAP Matching program in 2024
14,700+ pounds of food donated to local pantries + mutual aid groups in 2022
$149,000+SNAP funds redeemed in 2022
PLANT SEEDS OF CHANGEGreen City Market is a 501c3 nonprofit that depends on folks like you to operate the food access programs that serve hundreds of people across Chicago. With your support, we can create a city where nutritious, local, sustainably-grown food is a right, not a luxury. Give today and join our community of donors committed to achieving food security for all in Chicago. |
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