News

36% of Chicago households lack consistent access to enough food, according to the 2026 Hunger in Chicago report. Here’s how Nourishing Hope is making groceries easier to reach, and why food is only part of the answer.

SNAP benefits rarely disappear overnight. More often, they shrink, run out before the end of the month, or fall short of covering basic needs. Nourishing Hope’s data already shows many households facing reduced or interrupted benefits and they are turning to community food programs to make it through.

For many families, SNAP isn’t just a supplement, it’s the foundation that makes the rest of life possible. New federal rules are reshaping that foundation by expanding work requirements and shortening eligibility for adults without young dependents.

Volunteering at Nourishing Hope changed Michele Hoovler’s perspective on giving. Through shared experiences and connection, she witnessed the dignity and strength of neighbors facing food insecurity. Inspired by their resilience, Michele now champions individual giving as a vital force in fighting hunger across Chicago.

Nourishing Hope’s Summer Impact Report is here! Learn about our new Online Market partnership with Growing Home, how we’ve already reached 43% of our annual service goal, and how your donations are being matched up to $50,000 this Hunger Action Month. Plus, get updates on our marathon team, gala, and more.

The Chicago Sun-Times featured Nourishing Hope’s Interim CEO, Mitzi Baum, in a story about new newsstands in Uptown providing free naloxone to help prevent overdoses. The initiative, part of the city’s public health efforts, builds on Nourishing Hope’s existing work supplying naloxone and testing kits across Chicago.

Nourishing Hope has named Mitzi Baum as its new CEO, following her successful tenure as interim leader. A national expert with nearly 30 years of experience in food systems, public health, and nonprofit management, Mitzi previously led Stop Foodborne Illness and spent over two decades at Feeding America.

Pride is more than a month—it’s a commitment to care. Through “I Have a Queer-y,” Nourishing Hope provides LGBTQIA+ adults a safe space for reflection, connection, and healing. Led by queer mental health counselors, the 10-week program fosters authenticity, resilience, and community year-round.