The Greater Chicago Food Depository and the City Colleges of Chicago have teamed up to expand food access for students.
The newly designed Panther Market food pantry officially opened at Olive-Harvey College on the far Southside on Wednesday, November 4.
Fighting student food insecurity
A 2024 City Colleges survey found that 50% of student respondents across all City Colleges of Chicago considered themselves food insecure.
The Panther Market will provide students with no-cost food options in a bid to combat food insecurity. Students will have access to groceries, take-home meals, to-go snacks, and other options.
The market is part of the broader Chicago Food Security for Life initiative. The program provides free food resources at other city colleges including the Statesman Market at Kennedy-King College.
City Colleges of Chicago also offers its Meals to Go program at Olive-Harvey College, Malcolm X College, and Kennedy-King College.
Plans to expand the Meals to Go program to all seven City Colleges campuses are in development.
Mayor Johnson applauds opening
Mayor Brandon Johnson celebrated the Panther Market opening in a statement.
“Congratulations to Olive-Harvey College, City Colleges of Chicago, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository on the newly redesigned Panther Market,” said Johnson.
“Our students are balancing school, work, and responsibilities at home, and having access to fresh, healthy food right on campus can make a real difference for them and their families. The Panther Market is a great example of partners coming together to meet a need that students have right now.”
