The Merrillville-based Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and partnering organizations recently released a report entitled the 2025 Greater Chicagoland Hunger Report.
The report details the state of food insecurity across Lake and Porter counties. It offers insights into the rising demand for food assistance. The report reveals that despite ongoing efforts to meet rising demand, thousands of families continue to struggle with access to nutritious food.
“This report highlights what our neighbors have been experiencing in Northwest Indiana,” said Victor Garcia, Food Bank of Northwest Indiana president and CEO, in a press release. “The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is proud to work alongside the Feeding America network which includes the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Northern Illinois Food Bank as we collaborate to support the greater Chicagoland area.”
Key findings from the report include:
- One in four people cannot afford the basic cost of living in their county.
- About 5% of people in the Greater Chicagoland area are facing food insecurity.
- Grocery prices increased 20% between June 2020 and June 2025.
“The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is committed to identifying innovative strategies that reduce food insecurity as we look to remove barriers to access,” Garcia said. “But we can’t do this alone. Our food bank relies on the thousands of volunteers who donate their most precious resource in service of others, their time.
The full report is available here.
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana has been fighting food insecurity in the Region since 1982. It distributes about seven million pounds of groceries annually to families, children, seniors and individuals in Lake and Porter Counties.
