El Mercadito
Serving food and hope in Humboldt Park
3533 W. North Ave.
Become a monthly sustainer to provide food and hope, all year-round.
A Welcoming Location for Chicago’s West Side
Visit El Mercadito for fresh, nourishing food and access to supportive social services.
Choose the option that works best for you — pick up a pre-packed express order or come inside to select your groceries in-person.
This partnership between La Casa Norte and Nourishing Hope was created from a shared belief: access to healthy, nutritious food is a basic human right.
Visit Our FAQ Page
for details about in-person markets.
Who We Serve
El Mercadito is open to anyone living in the City of Chicago. Our food access programs are designed to support neighbors whose incomes fall below government guidelines.
If you’re a caregiver or helping someone who can’t come to one of our sites in person, please print and complete the Proxy Form below.
The food recipient must sign the form, and you’ll need to bring it with you when picking up their food.*
*Proxy forms need to be completely filled out and signed by both you and your proxy. We only need these forms for monthly distribution pickups.
Monthly Income Guidelines by Household Size
1 Person Household
2 Person Household
3 Person Household
4 Person Household
5 Person Household
6 Person Household
7 Person Household
8 Person Household
9 Person Household
10 Person Household
For households with more than 10 persons, add $1,375 for each additional person up to 300% FPL
What You Get
We do our best to ensure every household receives a balanced and nourishing selection. The amount of food you receive depends on your family's size and needs.
Please note:
El Mercadito provides monthly grocery pickups only. For an additional bonus pick-up of prepackaged produce and bread, please visit our Sheridan Market and join the Express line.
What's included:
Nutritious Groceries
Fresh produce, dairy, meat and pantry staples to help you prepare healthy meals.
Social Services
Support for public benefits, housing employment, and other essential needs.
Referral Services
Access to La Casa Norte’s information and referral network for additional community support.
Variety of Meats
Dairy Products
Fresh Vegetables
Personal Hygiene
Fresh Bread
Personal Hygiene
Fresh Bread
Hours & Location
We may close early if we have reached our service capacity for the day.
Address
3533 W. North Ave. First Floor Chicago, IL 60647
Food Distribution Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
This location only provides monthly pick-ups.
Up to 150 households—75 via Monthly Choice, 75 via Monthly Express. May close early if capacity is reached.
El Mercadito offers drop-in social services on Mondays from 11 AM – 2PM.
3533 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Registration
This below form is for NEW clients looking to register for our standard food distribution (Sheridan Market and El Mercadito).