Free Food Pop Up

10/13/2026

Food distribution 730-830am Wednesday at CTFPD. $5 donation requested. Open to ALL! NO ID required. Remember to bring a container or ziplock bags for table salt we have in bulk. Be Nice. If you missed out on Tuesday please attend Wednesday!

10/12/2026

Have Experience Writing Grants?
Free Food Pop Up Could Use Your Help!
Free Food Pop Up is looking for someone with experience researching and writing grants who would be interested in helping us secure funding to continue and expand our mission of helping individuals and families in need.
Every week, we work hard to get food and essential items into the hands of people who need them most. Our goal is to reach even more families, provide additional resources, and eventually secure a permanent location with electricity, water, and gas so we can serve our community consistently, regardless of the weather.
Grant funding could make a tremendous difference in helping us purchase food and supplies, expand our outreach, cover operating expenses, and build a stronger foundation for the future. However, finding the right grants and preparing applications takes time, research, and knowledge of the process.
If you have experience writing grant proposals, researching funding opportunities, or working with nonprofit organizations, we would love to hear from you! Whether you are a professional grant writer willing to volunteer your time, someone looking to gain experience or simply someone who believes in what we do, your help could make a real difference.
If you know someone who might be interested, please share this post or pass along their information. Sometimes, one connection can open the door to opportunities that change lives.
Free Food Pop Up is built on the kindness of people who care. Together, we can do even more for those who need us. Please send me a message if you are interested in helping! ❤️

Send a message to learn more

10/12/2026

Free Food Pop Up distributes food at usually thee locations a week... weather depending and also if stock is available. We are asking for a meager $5 donation from those who are able to help us build something that could make a tremendous difference in our community.
That $5 may not seem like much, but when a community comes together, small donations can become something much bigger.
Our goal is to raise enough money to secure our own permanent building, complete with the space and utilities we need to operate year-round.
Right now, we are often dependent on the availability, schedules and generosity of other locations. We are incredibly grateful to every church, business, organization and individual who has opened a door to us. Without them, much of what we do would not be possible. But we also know that having our own building would allow us to do so much more.
With a permanent home, we could serve people more often, more consistently and without having to worry about whether a location is available or whether the weather will cooperate. We could have a place where food and donated items can be stored, organized and distributed efficiently.
Most importantly, we could have a place where people know they can come when they need help.
Free Food Pop Up does not believe people should have to prove they are struggling before receiving help. We don't ask for an address and we don't turn people away because they don't have one. We simply believe that if someone needs food or basic necessities, we should do what we can to help.
We have seen firsthand how much need exists in our communities. We have watched hundreds of families come through our distributions, and we continue to meet people who are struggling to make ends meet.
We want to reach even more of them.
So we are asking: If you can spare $5, please consider donating it to Free Food Pop Up.
Five dollars won't build a building by itself. But $5 from hundreds or thousands of caring people can help turn a dream into a permanent place of service.
We don't want to be dependent on others forever. We want to become self-sufficient enough to help others more. We want our own doors to open, our own lights to turn on and our own shelves to be filled so that when someone needs help, we can simply say, “Come on in.”
Every $5 brings us one step closer.
Free Food Pop Up isn't asking for a handout. We're asking our community to help us build a foundation from which we can continue giving back.
And it is tax deductable!

09/10/2026

Just another day with Barb Dorman at Free Food Pop Up with Southland Voice.
There is something incredibly special about having a job you genuinely love—or volunteering your time for a person, organizatio or cause you truly believe in. It doesn't feel like work anymore.
When you care about what you're doing, your attitude changes. You aren't constantly watching the clock, counting the minutes until you can leave. You’re laughing, talking, creating memories, meeting interesting people, solving problems, helping someone and sometimes making a complete mess of things together—and somehow, those become the stories you remember the most.
The best part? Everyone has fun. The people around you can feel when you're there because you want to be there, not because you're simply collecting a paycheck or fulfilling an obligation. That energy spreads. One person's enthusiasm can turn an ordinary day into something people actually look forward to.
Volunteering can be even more rewarding because you're giving your time without expecting anything in return. You get to watch someone’s face light up because of something you helped make happen. You get to meet people you might never have crossed paths with. You get to be part of something bigger than yourself.
And yes, there will still be stressful days, ridiculous situations, exhausted moments and probably a few things that go completely sideways. But when you're surrounded by people who care about the same mission, even the chaos can be fun.
I think that's one of life's greatest blessings: finding something you love so much that you can work hard at it, give your time to it, get tired doing it—and still go home thinking, “That was a damn good day.”
Because when you love what you do and love the people you're doing it with, you're not just working or volunteering. You're living. And everybody gets to have a little more fun along the way.

08/17/2026

Food distribution 830 to 930am tuesday in park forest $5 Donation requested. be nice

07/21/2026

Need community service hours?

Free Food Pop Up is a licensed 501(c)(3) nonprofit and is approved by Will and Cook Counties to provide verified community service hours for students, court-ordered service, and volunteer requirements.

Now... before you sign up, let's make sure we're a good fit. 😄

Please don't apply if you:

Can't make your first scheduled interview.
Think oversleeping is a legitimate transportation plan.
Have "court every Tuesday" on your calendar.
Never have reliable childcare.
Need a ride that arrives after the workday has already started.
Think you're doing us a favor by being here.
Can't take a joke.
Cry over every little inconvenience.
Get a flat tire every week... somehow.
Need to hold your cell phone like it's life support.
Have a mysterious weekly toothache.
Become an "expert" after your first day and no longer need directions.
Can't talk and work at the same time.
Forget to come back after lunch.
Expect a gold star for showing up on time.
Believe your birthday automatically qualifies as a paid holiday. (Spoiler alert... it doesn't.)

If, however, you're dependable, willing to learn, enjoy helping people, have a sense of humor, and aren't afraid of a little hard work... we'd love to have you!

We feed thousands of people each week, and it takes an incredible team to make it happen. Community service isn't just about earning hours—it's about making a real difference in someone's life.

If you qualify... welcome to the family. We have work to do!

Send a message to learn more

07/20/2026

Food distribution 830-930am Tuesday in Park Forest. Get in line early so we can beat the heat. Start lining up at south end. $5 donation requested. Please Be Nice!

07/20/2026

A letter Free Food Pop Up received about the 5 gallon water jugs we regifted from@Illinois Partners In Hope

My name is Andrea and I am the Recreation Supervisor for Dyer Parks & Recreation. Earlier this year, we received a donation of (20) 5 gallon water jugs. We were finally able to use them during our 2026 Summer Camp Challenge.
Our Summer Camp Challenge hosts over 350 participants. Teams from local Park Departments, neighborhoods ang YMCAs compete in six team-building events featuring a mix of strategy challenges, relays, and trivia. All games are designed to be inclusive and accessible for all ability levels.
Teams will earn points at each event, and the team with the highest cumulative score will be awarded a trophy and crowned the Summer Camp Challenge Champions and receive a trophy. A Spirit Stick Award is also presented to the team that demonstrates outstanding sportsmanship, attitude, and team spirit.
Please see the attaches photos of the recent Camp Challenge. We used the jugs to play a game called “flip the bottle.”
On behalf of the Dyer Parks & Recreation Department, the participants of this event and myself, we want to thank you for your generosity. If anything comes along that you can’t figure out what to do with, please reach out and we’ll figure out what we can use the item/items for.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Andrea Daliege
Recreation Supervisor
Dyer Parks & Recreation

07/07/2026

05/12/2026

Food Distribution 730-830 Wednesday at CTFPD. Make sure to come to this one to get a raffle ticket for a cool prize at the end of the month. Only people who come to Crete get raffle tickets. Be Nice. $5 donation requested