Access to good food is a right, not a privilege. We're dedicated to making that right a reality for all Chicagoans. 1 in 6 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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snap matchingExpanding access to nutritious, local, sustainably-produced food is one of the pillars of Green City Market's mission — that's why we welcome and triple match Link (also known as SNAP or EBT) at all our farmers' markets, thanks to our generous donors and our partnership with Experimental Station and their Link Up Illinois Program. When you spend $25 of Link with Green City Market, you automatically get $50 more to spend to make your benefits go further. Green City Market’s SNAP matching is available both at our farmers' markets, GCM Lincoln Park and GCM West Loop. Learn more about how to participate, and reach out to our team at operations@greencitymarket.org with questions or for assistance. |
Sustainable Food RecoverySince 2012, Green City Market has partnered with Lakeview Pantry to recover food grown by local, sustainable farmers and provide it to Lakeview Pantry clients. 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 Lakeview Pantry 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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Nourishing NeighborsIn a typical season, Green City Market offers field trips at the Edible Gardens, located within the Lincoln Park Zoo's Farm in the Zoo, as well as workshops on pollination, organics, seed germination, composting, and climate and hands-on gardening activities like seasonal produce tasting, planting, harvesting, seed saving, turning compost, and more. In 2020, the Edible Gardens’ in-person programming was suspended during the coronavirus pandemic for the health and safety of our community. But by no means did the gardens close up shop — with unemployment and hunger on the rise, the Edible Gardens team got to planting, growing over 700 pounds of produce to donate to local pantries and mutual aid groups. In 2021, we grew over 2,000 pounds of produce to donate to neighbors in need. Learn more about this program's impact. |
YOUR IMPACT
We're a market on a mission! Here's what our community of supporters makes possible:
75+zip codes served through GCM's Link Matching program
7,280 pounds of food donated to local pantries + mutual aid groups in 2021
$59,000+Link funds spent + matched in 2021
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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. |