slide-logo

Fighting Hunger One Block At A Time

Fight2Feed has remained nimble and responsive in serving our communities through this unprecedented time of need. Our mission is simple but vital: reduce food waste while providing fresh, hot meals to those facing hunger.

Our kitchens are led by local volunteers with common interest to serve, chefs from local restaurants, BBQ joints, catering companies, and culinary consultants who all generously give their time and talent. Until we secure a permanent home, we continue cooking from borrowed and sponsored kitchens—proving that with teamwork, great things are possible.

To keep our community safe and expand our reach, we’ve reshaped our service to include curbside pickup and direct drop-off deliveries. Every week, we seed dedicated volunteers to prep, cook, clean, and deliver meals. We especially welcome those with vehicles who can help us rescue food and keep our #MobileF2F team moving forward.

If you’d like to join us in feeding hope and fighting food waste, please email us at volunteer@fight2feed.org

Silhouette of a city skyline with two airplanes above, inspired by Fight2Feed Lake Forest Illinois.

Fight2Feed Chicago, IL

volunteer chicago

volunteer thanksgiving

thanksgiving meal drive

volunteer christmas eve

holiday meal drive

Volunteer Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly

Fight2Feed ATLANTA, GA

volunteer atlanta

Fight2Feed KANSAS CITY, MO

volunteer kansas city

how you can support our cause

donate

volunteer

get involved

Fighting Hunger About Us

Fight2Feed is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to ending hunger and reducing food waste—beginning right here in our own communities.

Founded on March 20, 2014, in Chicago, IL, we started with a simple goal: create real change in our neighborhoods, one block at a time. Since then, we’ve proudly served over 2 million meals and rescued more than 6 million pounds of food that might otherwise have gone to waste.

👉 Click below to learn more about how Fight2Feed is feeding hope and fueling change!

why Fight2Feed

Hunger is happening on our watch

Fight2Feed is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization on a mission to end hunger and reduce food waste—starting in our own communities.

Launched on March 20, 2014, in Chicago, IL, we set out to create change one block at a time. Since then, we’ve served over 2 million meals and rescued more than 6 million pounds of food. Entirely volunteer-run, Fight2Feed now has active chapters in Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, and Kansas City, MO.

Our vision is to one day have a free store, enabling us to empower food insecure communities to be more food sufficient We’re proudly funded through events, support from businesses like fairlife, BMO Harris Bank, Burger Alley Chicago, Woodfire Tavern, In Culinary Conversations, and Givsly, along with partnerships with local festivals. Every dollar raised goes directly back into serving meals.

At our core, Fight2Feed is about community, collaboration, and creating sustainable change. This journey has been incredible—and we’re just getting started. Together, we will continue to #FeedItForward and bring hope to even more communities across the country.

People preparing food in a Fight2Feed Lake Forest Illinois kitchen; shirt displays a green fist.

be the change

An estimated 12.3 percent of American households (roughly 38 million people) were food insecure at some point during 2016, meaning they lacked access to enough food for all household members to have an active, healthy life. That is essentially unchanged from 12.7 percent in 2015.

The prevalence of very low food security also remained essentially unchanged, at 4.9 percent in 2016 and 5.0 percent in 2015.

It's time to make change happen.

Two large pots of soup served by Fight2Feed at a Lake Forest, Illinois community kitchen.

Food for kids

According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 people in the U.S. face hunger every year. The rate of hunger among children is even higher, with about 1 in 5 lacking proper access to food at some point during the year.

16.2 million children live in households that lack the means to get enough nutritious food on a regular basis.

As a result, about 1 in 5 children go hungry at some point during the year. No one should go hungry, especially our children.

A pile of halved cherry tomatoes on leafy greens in a Fight2Feed Lake Forest Illinois bowl.

healthy meals

Roughly 40 percent of all produce in the United States is thrown away—some 60 million tons or $165 billion per year. This constitutes one-third of all foodstuffs —and is enough to feed 25 million people!

Wasted food is also the single largest component in American landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Fight2Feed wants to continue turning this into healthy meals for our hungry friends in need!

donate

volunteer

our mission

Knocking Out Hunger WHILE REDUCING FOOD WASTE

That’s right—we rescue food from restaurants, chefs, and generous food distributors, then repurpose it into healthy, hot meals for our community.With the dedication of Fight2Feed volunteers and chefs—and the support of people like you—we reduce food waste while nourishing our hungry neighbors with dignity and care.

As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, our vision is to take root in communities nationwide. We may be a young nonprofit, but our impact is growing rapidly—and so is the movement to end hunger and food waste together.

Play Video

Fast Facts

86 billion pounds of food is wasted by households and the foodservice industry every year.

donate

Play Video

Food Insecurity

48.1 million Americans live in food insecure households, including 32.8 million adults and 15.3 million children.

volunteer

what we do

Fight2Feed What we do

Every week, Fight2Feed rescues 10,000–20,000 pounds of food from local partners like Misfits Market, European Imports, The Oak View Group at McCormick Place and events such as Lollapalooza, In Culinary Conversations, National Restaurant Show and Culinary Fight Club to name a few. Thanks to our incredible volunteers and their vehicles, this surplus food is rescued, repurposed, and transported, carefully handled by chefs and trained Fight2Feed team members.

The food we recover is shared with our 34 partners comprised of soup kitchens, churches, smaller community meal operations, and through our own cooking operations to prepare hot meals for those in need. We also share rescued food directly with smaller pantry and shelter partners, ensuring it reaches as many hungry friends as possible.

Today, Fight2Feed is active in Chicago, Atlanta, and Kansas City—with more communities asking for our support. To keep growing, we need funding, sweat equity, and strong local leaders to help us expand our mission and #FeedItForward nationwide.

donate

volunteer

in the media

Non-profit Fight2Feed steps in

Anyone receiving emergency additional Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Illinois because of the pandemic will see their benefits drop this month. It means families could see up to $250 less per person a month. At least one Chicago nonprofit has already seen demand ramp up in anticipation of this change. CBS 2's Sabrina Franza met with Fight2Feed.
READ MORE >

Fight2Feed turns wasted food

into healthy meals for people in need. Phil Siddu, director of community resources of Fight2Feed, joins “Chicago Today” to discuss the nonprofit organization that turns wasted food into healthy meals and continues to serve meals that help local communities stay strong.
READ MORE >

Donated Space will enable Fight2Feed

Although McCormick Place is not able to hold our typical events during the pandemic, the MPEA is glad to lend an idle kitchen to a local non-for-profit so they may further their mission to recover unused food. Learn how the volunteers of Fight2Feed a
READ MORE >

Vanille Patisserie teams up with Fight2Feed

3rd annual Chicago pie donation drive
Sophie Evanoff and Jiwon McCartney join Good Day Chicago to talk about their partnership and the importance of giving back to those less fortunate this Thanksgiving through their pie donation drive.
READ MORE >

Chicago chefs 'Fight2Feed' thousands

Using McCormick Place's East Kitchen, donated items and rescued food
Chefs from across Chicago are joining forces to feed thousands of families in need.

The non-profit Fight2Feed is utilizing kitchen space provided by McCormick Place to expand its reach and help even more people.
READ MORE >

Two women in masks pack boxed pies for Fight2Feed in a Lake Forest, Illinois kitchen.

pies for a cause

Evanoff started pie sponsorships in 2020; for every 10 pies sold, the Lincoln Park bakery donates one pie to Fight2Feed, a nonprofit that rescues food from restaurants/food distributors to provide hot meals to organizations and people in need. Evanoff plans to give 250 pies to the group this week for the holiday and the families that will enjoy the meals they prepare.
READ MORE >

A Fight2Feed volunteer in Lake Forest, Illinois, chats with someone on the sidewalk with carts.

Fight2Feed Fights Hunger in Chicago

Fight2Feed is a 100% volunteer-driven, non-profit organization that works to turn wasted food into healthy meals for hungry people in need. They even hit the streets and feed the homeless directly during what they call "street missions."
READ MORE >

Volunteers with Fight2Feed serve food at a Lake Forest, Illinois community event.

Fighting Food Insecurity

A nonprofit is serving up a mixed bag of fighting food insecurity and food waste with making students’ dreams come true.

Since the organization moved into McCormick Place in February, the non-profit Fight2Feed has rescued over 2.2 million pounds of food that would otherwise be thrown away.
READ MORE >

Five people smile and gather around a table with potatoes at Fight2Feed Lake Forest Illinois.

Chicago chefs 'Fight2Feed' families

Chefs from across Chicago are joining forces to feed thousands of families in need. The non-profit Fight2Feed is utilizing kitchen space provided by McCormick Place to expand its reach and help even more people. On what's called Serving Tuesday, local chefs from Fight2Feed come together to cook meals for people in need.
READ MORE >

Volunteers with Fight2Feed pack apples and yogurt in Lake Forest, Illinois community event.

Feeding Change

In honor of Hunger Action Month, we want to help spread awareness about an awesome nonprofit that we work within Chicago, Fight2Feed. Fight2Feed fights hunger by rescuing produce and delivering it to folks in need.

They were one of our first donation partners in Chicago, and we are proud to have donated over eight thousand pounds of produce to support their cause so far.
READ MORE >

Three people wearing masks serve food for Fight2Feed in a Lake Forest, Illinois kitchen.

McCormick Place & Fight2Feed

North America’s largest convention center McCormick Place, and its food service provider, SAVOR…Chicago announced a new partnership with non-profit Fight2Feed to serve local communities in need.
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), owner of McCormick Place, is donating space in the East Kitchen of the Lakeside Building to Fight2Feed.
READ MORE >

donate

volunteer

2024 Impact Report

get involved SUPPORT FIGHT2FEED

We think we have a fantastic cause, but we need your help.
Don't worry, we have lots of great ways for you to support us.

Support Us DONATE

We think we have a fantastic cause, but we need your help. Don't worry, we have lots of great ways for you to support us.

donate now

We Need You VOLUNTEER

Want to be a Fight2Feed street team member to help our organization feed the hungry, we need YOU to help us grow!

volunteer

Tasty Joy BAKESQUAD

Fight2Feed has officially added the #BakeSquad to our volunteer groups.

join bakesquad

Culinary FIGHT CLUB

This is one of the many event series that donates to the Fight2Feed.

attend cfc

Be A LEADER

The Fight2Feed team is made up of people just like you. We're constantly looking for leaders.

leadership

Community PANTRY AID

Help us rescue and repurpose food from restaurants, chefs and donations from food distributors to create healthy hot meals.

community pantry aid

Get Our GEAR

Show your support and rock some awesome Fight2Feed gear. We have a variety pf shirts, sweaters and hats available.

get our gear

Spread The Word GET SOCIAL

We believe your voice is the most powerful force on the planet.

Group Volunteering

At Fight2Feed volunteering as a group is a great team building and rewarding experience. We welcome groups of all sorts for group voluteering.

Group Volunteer Signup

Group Donations

Testimonials of group voluteering

Google:

“Thank you again for having us, it was a great day … Vee is amazing, love me some Pablo as well .”

BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC

“ … the team was ecstatic to have assisted Fight2Feed this past Wednesday. There was so much chatter on Thursday about the experience.”

our team Sponsors & Partners

Vanille Logo

Hutch Logo

Alinea Logo

Allure Logo

American Red Cross Logo

Aramark Logo

Big Fork Logo

BMO Harris Bank Logo

Boar's Head Cafe Logo

Bull Logo

Castle Logo

Burger Alley Logo

Chicago Culinary Kitchen Logo

Chicago Food Truck Logo

Cloztalk Logo

Cornerstone Community Outreach Logo

IC Culinary Logo

Fiarlife Logo

Farmhouse Culture Logo

Frontier Logo

Givsly Logo

Gold Standard Baking Logo

Got Stubs Logo

HSBC Logo

Imperfect Foods Logo

K Logo

Little Brothers Logo

Nest Fresh Logo

Operation BBQ Relief Logo

#porkmafia logo

Slow Motion for Meat Logo

McCormick Place Logo

Smoque BBQ Logo

Sysco Logo

The Chicago Help Initiative Logo

US Poker Casino Logo

WFSC Logo

Whole Foods Logo

Woodfire Tavern Logo

District Logo

Four Star Mushrooms Logo

Our Stories Videos & Films

FIGHT2FEED is on YouTube! View our latest videos below and Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates!

Play Video

about us

get involved

contact

825 S. WAUKEGAN RD #175 A8
LAKE FOREST, IL, 60045
UNITED STATES

312-244-3724

GIVE@FIGHT2FEED.ORG

FIGHT2FEED is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Built by 240 Group, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Content, including images, displayed on this website is protected by copyright laws.
Downloading, republication, retransmission or reproduction of content on this website is strictly prohibited.