The Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) is a nonprofit food distribution and training center established in 1979, serving as Cook County’s food bank. The organization distributes food to a network of more than 700 partner agencies and programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters throughout Chicago and Cook County, Illinois. Operating from a 268,000-square-foot facility on Chicago’s Southwest Side, the Food Depository handles approximately 100 million pounds of food annually. The organization works to address both immediate food assistance needs and the root causes of hunger through various initiatives, including job training programs focused on food industry skills and advocacy for anti-hunger policies. The GCFD operates several key programs, including the Chicago’s Community Kitchens, a free 14-week culinary job training program for unemployed and underemployed adults, and the Healthy Student Market program, which provides fresh produce and nutritious food to students and their families at schools throughout Cook County. The organization relies on a combination of food and financial donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations, as well as government support. It maintains partnerships with major grocery retailers, food manufacturers, and agricultural producers to source its food supply. The Food Depository also engages thousands of volunteers annually who help sort, pack, and distribute food.