Top 15 Churches in Chicago Helping with Rent, Food, and Bills in 2025

When rent is late, ComEd is threatening shutoff, and the fridge is basically empty, it’s easy to feel like you’re out of options. Chicago’s cost of living hits hard, especially if you’re juggling job loss, disability, or family emergencies.

The good news: across the city, churches quietly run food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency assistance programs that actually move the needle — groceries for the week, help keeping utilities on, even limited rent assistance through partner agencies.

This guide pulls together 15 of the most impactful, accessible churches in Chicago that provide structured help with food, bills, and basic needs. The ranking is based on the size and consistency of their outreach, how clearly they explain “how to get help,” and verified info from church, city, and partner-agency sites — not just word-of-mouth. (fourthchurch.org)

If you’re in crisis, you don’t need vibes — you need a short list, clear instructions, and somewhere you can call today. Start with the churches closest to you and work outward.

How We Chose These Churches in Chicago

We focused on churches physically located in Chicago or directly serving Chicago neighborhoods that offer at least one structured support program (food pantry, meals, rent/utility help, or other emergency aid), have public contact details, and are recognized by trusted partners like the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Catholic Charities, or city resource guides. (Greater Chicago Food Depository)

1. St. Pius V Church (Pilsen)

St. Pius V is a long-standing Catholic parish in Pilsen with one of the most established food ministries on the Southwest Side. (stpiusvparish.org)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly soup kitchen (hot meals)

  • Weekly food pantry (bagged groceries)

• Best for: Households in and around Pilsen needing regular hot meals plus groceries.

How to get help:St. Pius V’s soup kitchen serves hot meals in the church basement multiple days per week, and the pantry distributes groceries on Tuesdays in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. (stpiusvparish.org)Address: 1901 S. Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60608Phone: 312-226-6161 (parish office) (networks.whyhunger.org)Check their website’s “Emergency Services” or “Get Help” page for current hours.

The parish serves hundreds of meals each week and 100+ families via its pantry, emphasizing dignity and hospitality for immigrant and low-income neighbors. (giving.archchicago.org)Trust signals: Long-running ministry partnered with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, listed in national hunger resource directories as both a soup kitchen and food pantry. (networks.whyhunger.org)

2. Mission of Our Lady of the Angels (Humboldt Park)

This Catholic mission is basically a logistics hub for food relief on the West Side. (Our Lady of the Angels Mission)

• Primary assistance:

  • Large weekly food pantry

  • Home-delivered groceries for eligible seniors/disabled residents

• Best for: Seniors, disabled residents, and families in Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, and Austin.

How to get help:The mission runs a Tuesday morning pantry and a first-Saturday distribution, plus a delivery program for seniors and disabled residents in nearby neighborhoods. Call 773-486-8431 to ask about pantry hours and the delivery waitlist. Address: 3814–3808 W. Iowa St, Chicago, IL 60651. (YMCA)

They routinely serve thousands of families per month and coordinate huge food distributions with corporate donors like Starbucks and community partners. (Mission of Our Lady of the Angels)Trust signals: Featured by Catholic parishes and civic agencies for serving ~4,000 families a month and operating one of the largest church-based pantries in the city. (Parishes Online)

3. Our Lady of Africa Parish (Bronzeville)

Our Lady of Africa is a South Side Catholic parish with a dedicated social justice and food ministry footprint. (Our Lady of Africa)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly food pantry at Tolton Center

  • Social justice ministry connecting people to additional services

• Best for: Residents around Bronzeville and nearby ZIPs needing recurring groceries and referrals.

How to get help:Food pantry distributions are run through the Tolton Center (near 41st & Michigan) on scheduled days, typically Thursday mid-mornings — check the parish calendar or call 773-624-5375 to confirm. Parish office address: 615 E Oakwood Blvd, Chicago, IL 60653. (Our Lady of Africa)

The parish partners with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and runs a social justice ministry that looks at root causes of poverty while still handling immediate hunger. (giving.archchicago.org)Trust signals: Named by Catholic Charities and archdiocesan reports as a key South Side pantry site, serving about 250 individuals monthly. (giving.archchicago.org)

4. St. Josephine Bakhita Parish (South Shore / Southeast Side)

Formed from several legacy parishes, St. Josephine Bakhita runs high-volume pantry and clothing support. (giving.archchicago.org)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly food pantry

  • Clothing and toiletry distribution

  • Limited equipment support for people with disabilities

• Best for: Families needing both food and basic household items, especially on the Southeast Side.

How to get help:Their Greater Chicago Food Depository pantry operates every Tuesday morning; clothing/toiletry distribution is typically on Wednesdays. Call the parish office (see Facebook or Archdiocese contact listing) to confirm hours and location before going. (giving.archchicago.org)

They serve roughly 200–250 people per week, organized like a small grocery store so guests can choose what they need. (giving.archchicago.org)Trust signals: Recognized by the Archdiocese as a high-impact parish outreach site with consistent weekly pantry and clothing services. (giving.archchicago.org)

5. Mother of the Americas Parish (Little Village)

Mother of the Americas Parish anchors food and rent support on the Southwest Side in Little Village. (giving.archchicago.org)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly food pantry serving ~150 families

  • Clothing distribution and ESL classes

  • Rent assistance via Catholic Charities grants

• Best for: Immigrant families in Little Village needing both food and limited rent support.

How to get help:The parish pantry runs weekly (check their Facebook page or call the office) and serves about 150 families, with staff able to connect eligible households to Catholic Charities–funded rent assistance when available. Address: 2226 S Whipple St, Chicago, IL 60623 (campus also includes Our Lady of Tepeyac site at 3047 W Cermak Rd). (giving.archchicago.org)

Programs are designed around new immigrants, with Spanish-language support and legal/immigration guidance. (giving.archchicago.org)Trust signals: Profiled by the Archdiocese for its growing pantry and formal rent-assistance partnerships with Catholic Charities. (giving.archchicago.org)

6. Jesus, Bread of Life Parish (Logan Square / Northwest)

This parish leans hard into its name — food is central to its ministry. (giving.archchicago.org)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly food pantry serving 300+ people

  • Support for migrants and refugees

• Best for: Logan Square and nearby neighborhoods, especially newly arrived migrants.

How to get help:The church hosts a weekly pantry; the best move is to call or check the parish bulletin for current day/time. The parish campus includes Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (2450 N Ridgeway Ave, Chicago, IL 60647). (Instagram)

They coordinate with local schools and groups who pre-pack hundreds of lunches and pantry bags for distribution to guests and partner shelters. (giving.archchicago.org)Trust signals: Highlighted in archdiocesan reports and media for serving over 300 people per week and being a key support site for migrant families. (giving.archchicago.org)

7. St. Mary Magdalene Parish (Blue Island / South Side)

St. Mary Magdalene Parish serves a combined community that includes parts of Blue Island, Chicago, and Robbins, with a consistent pantry footprint. (giving.archchicago.org)

• Primary assistance:

  • Friday food pantry (Incarnation site)

  • St. Vincent de Paul group for emergency needs

• Best for: South-suburban and Far South Side households who can travel to Blue Island for pantry support.

How to get help:The food pantry operates Friday mornings at Incarnation Church in Blue Island (2339 York St, Blue Island, IL 60406), operated by St. Mary Magdalene Parish. (catholiccharities.net)Call the parish office via their website’s contact page to confirm hours and inquire about St. Vincent de Paul emergency assistance.

The parish explicitly centers service and community outreach, including tuition assistance and SVdP casework for families under financial stress. (giving.archchicago.org)Trust signals: Listed by Catholic Charities as the operator of a regional pantry site and profiled by the Archdiocese for ongoing outreach work. (catholiccharities.net)

8. Fourth Presbyterian Church (Near North / Downtown)

Fourth Presbyterian is a downtown church with one of the city’s best-known meals and pantry ministries. (fourthchurch.org)

• Primary assistance:

  • Meals Ministry (49,000+ meals/year)

  • Food pantry “shopping” experience

  • Clothing “Share Shop”

• Best for: People near downtown needing low-barrier meals and pantry access with no proof of need.

How to get help:Reception desk: 126 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611; main phone listed on their site. They host regular meals plus a stocked food pantry where guests “shop” for groceries, supplied by the Greater Chicago Food Depository. (fourthchurch.org)

Fourth also supports asylum seekers living next door at a city-contracted hotel and connects guests to the Chicago Lights Social Service Center for case management. (fourthchurch.org)Trust signals: Publicly reports serving ~49,000 meals per year, with established partnerships and transparent program descriptions on its website. (fourthchurch.org)

9. The Salvation Army Chicago Temple Corps Community Center (Near West Loop)

This Salvation Army corps functions as both a church and a major emergency-assistance hub. (The Salvation Army USA)

• Primary assistance:

  • Emergency help with rent/mortgage and utilities

  • Food pantry and meals

  • Clothing and transportation assistance

• Best for: Anyone across Chicago needing help to stop an eviction, shutoff, or short-term financial crisis.

How to get help:Address: 1 N Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60607. Phone: 312-492-6803. Walk-in hours are generally Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Use the North & Central Illinois “Online Referral Desk” or call to ask specifically about rent, utility, and emergency assistance. (The Salvation Army USA)

The corps connects you to broader Salvation Army programs that cover rent/mortgage, utility bills, medicine, and transportation, depending on funding and eligibility. (The Salvation Army USA)Trust signals: Part of a large, audited regional network that publicly documents its emergency-assistance programs and referral process. (The Salvation Army USA)

10. New Life Covenant Church Southeast (Grand Crossing)

New Life Covenant Southeast is a megachurch with a serious food-relief footprint on the South Side. (Greater Chicago Food Depository)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly food pantry (Thursdays)

  • Large-scale grocery distributions

• Best for: Families around 60619 and nearby ZIPs needing consistent pantry support with flexible hours.

How to get help:Address: 7757 S Greenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60619. Phone: 773-285-1731. On Thursdays, the church runs pantry distributions in time windows like 12–2 p.m. and 4–6 p.m.; confirm current hours via their website or social feeds. (Greater Chicago Food Depository)

They partner with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and run large volunteer operations to move significant quantities of groceries each week. (Greater Chicago Food Depository)Trust signals: Featured by local media as a key pantry site in 60619 with regular, scheduled distributions and active online communication. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

11. West Point Baptist Church (Bronzeville / Douglas)

West Point Baptist is an historic South Side church that quietly runs a longstanding pantry. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly food pantry

• Best for: Households in Bronzeville and Douglas needing neighborhood-based pantry support.

How to get help:The church operates a weekly food pantry (historically mid-week) at its Cottage Grove location; check their website or call the office number listed in city and community resource guides to confirm current hours. (WPMBC)

The pantry has served the wider Chicago community for years, especially during economic downturns. (WPMBC)Trust signals: Listed in neighborhood resource directories and food-access articles as a reliable pantry site for the Bronzeville area. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

12. St. James Catholic Church (Douglas)

St. James is a downtown-adjacent parish that doubles as a high-throughput food pantry site. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

• Primary assistance:

  • Multi-day weekly food pantry

• Best for: Residents near the South Loop / Douglas corridor needing frequent pantry access with multilingual support.

How to get help:St. James distributes groceries Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9–11:30 a.m., plus the second Saturday of the month from 9–11 a.m. Address: 2907 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60616. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

The pantry offers support in multiple languages, including Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese) and Spanish, making it more accessible to immigrant households. (Borderless Magazine NFP)Trust signals: Listed by Borderless Magazine’s food-access guide as a core pantry resource for the Douglas neighborhood. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

13. Sixth Grace Presbyterian Church (Douglas)

Sixth Grace Presbyterian adds another layer of pantry capacity in the same neighborhood. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly food pantry

• Best for: Individuals wanting a smaller, church-based pantry setting on the South Side.

How to get help:The church runs a pantry on Tuesdays from 10 a.m.–1 p.m.; confirm details by calling the church office. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

Pantry hours are designed to complement other local sites like St. James, so residents have multiple weekday options.Trust signals: Included in citywide food-access roundups as a regular pantry site and recognized as part of the South Side church safety net. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

14. Resurrection United Methodist Church (Clearing)

Resurrection UMC covers the Southwest Side near Midway with a bilingual pantry. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

• Primary assistance:

  • Friday food pantry

• Best for: Southwest Side residents, including Spanish-speaking families, needing end-of-week groceries.

How to get help:The pantry is open Fridays from 9–11 a.m. Address: 5717 W 63rd Pl, Chicago, IL 60638. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

Spanish-language support is available, which is a major plus for immigrant families in the area.Trust signals: Highlighted in neighborhood guides for offering Spanish services and consistent weekly distributions. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

15. Gorham United Methodist Church (Washington Park)

Gorham UMC is a long-standing Washington Park congregation that runs a straightforward, reliable pantry. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

• Primary assistance:

  • Weekly food pantry

• Best for: Washington Park residents and nearby neighborhoods who can come during weekday hours.

How to get help:Gorham’s pantry operates Tuesdays from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at 5600 S Indiana Ave, Chicago, IL 60637. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

This church has been part of local anti-hunger efforts for years, serving as one of the main faith-based food hubs in Washington Park.Trust signals: Listed alongside other major South Side pantries in citywide resource guides, indicating reliability and scale. (Borderless Magazine NFP)

Other Important Helplines and Resources in Chicago

• Call 211 (United Way of Metro Chicago) – Central helpline for food, rent, utility, and shelter referrals across Cook County.

• Call 311 (City of Chicago) – Ask for “short-term help with rent or utilities” to be routed to city-contracted emergency-assistance partners like Catholic Charities. (catholiccharities.net)

• Greater Chicago Food Depository “Find Food” Map – Online map to locate pantries, soup kitchens, and mobile distributions by ZIP code. (Greater Chicago Food Depository)

• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago – Crisis Assistance – Central intake and referrals for rental, deposit, and utility help when funds are available. (catholiccharities.net)

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 24/7 free mental-health crisis support if everything feels like too much.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re choosing between paying rent, buying groceries, or keeping the lights on, you’re not failing — the system is. These churches exist exactly for moments like this.

Pick two or three from this list that are closest to you or that match what you need (food only vs. food + rent/utility help) and contact them today — call, check the website, or just show up during pantry hours if that’s allowed. Then share this article with anyone else in Chicago who might be quietly struggling. You don’t have to handle this alone.