Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid zip code
VolunteerVolunteer in this community
Ways we helpWays we help in this community
DonateDonate to this community
How you can helpHow you can help in this community
Hear moreHear more from this community

Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid zip code
Doing The Most to Fight Hunger Image

Doing The Most to Fight Hunger

Every day, The Salvation Army helps cure hunger by providing nutritious meals to neighbors in need.

To keep our clients, staff, and volunteers safe, and in accordance with city and state guidelines, programs at The Salvation Army Blue Island (Crossgenerations) Corps Community Center are modified until further notice. Senior Lunch Program and food pantry are continuing, but only as drive-through services. For the most up-to-date information, please contact us at (708) 332-0100.

Click here to learn more about local and national Coronavirus (COVID-19) relief efforts.


59% of people seeking food assistance choose between paying for food and paying rent or mortgage.

Each night in the U.S., 17.4 million families go to bed hungry. An additional 6.9 million families experience very low food security. That means they don't always know where their next meal is coming from.

"I'm thankful for the fresh food pantry. My family gets a meal every night with fresh produce."

Families should not have to choose between healthy food and paying rent. The Salvation Army provides more than 156,000 nutritious meals for seniors, children and families in the U.S. every day.

The Salvation Army fights hunger in our community through:

Food Pantry
The Salvation Army Crossgenerations Food Pantry provides shelf-stable pantry items, bread, cereals, meat, and other household necessities, and is open Wednesdays, from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Pantry functions on a first come first served basis. However, all our clients receive the same kind and amount of goods every time. Individuals and families should bring ID, proof of address, paycheck stub, and documents to prove family dependent(s) on the first visit. We also ask that our clients visit once every 30 days to allow for other people to benefit from this service as well.

Summer Produce
The Salvation Army Crossgenerations operates a rooftop garden and uses fresh fruits and vegetables in its weekday lunches. Occasionally we have a surplus of food that is made available to the community.

Senior Lunch
The Salvation Army Crossgenerations Corps Community Center has a vibrant senior community with fellowship opportunities daily. 

  • Lunch: Monday - Friday, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
    • The Salvation Army Crossgenerations provides nutritious meals during the week for seniors and families.
    • Meals range from sandwiches to hot entrees and include vegetables, fruit, and milk.
    • Cost for seniors is $3, adults $6.

Homelessness Prevention & Emergency Assistance Programs
The Salvation Army provides emergency assistance to help with mortgage/rent, utility bills, clothing, medication bills, and other needs to keep families in their homes. The Salvation Army Crossgenerations Social Services department is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., by appointment only. For more information or to make an appointment, please call us at 708-332-0100. To receive assistance from The Salvation Army Crossgenerations Corps Community Center, you must live in our service area zip codes 60406, 60655, 60803, 60445, 60472, 60469, 60427 (Calumet Park only)** and have a verifiable economic or personal crisis. Documents needed for appointments are as follows:

  1. Picture ID
  2. Social Security cards for household
  3. Proof of income
  4. Rental lease or mortgage paperwork
  5. Bills & receipts of payments towards the bills
  6. Proof of any other assistance received
  7. Reports from Fire Dept, FEMA or Red Cross (if the victim of a fire or flood)

**For emergency assistance outside these areas, you may also contact a different Corps Community Center or Service Extension Units (partner organizations/agencies) by searching for the location nearest you.

Holiday Meals
The Salvation Army provides Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families unable to create a special meal themselves. We host homemade dinners at our facility and provide a Christmas dinner box to struggling families. Each box feeds a family of six and includes meat, potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, biscuits, cake mix and more. 

How You and Your Family Can Help
Homelessness is an issue plaguing cities and neighborhoods across the country. Here are some ideas for how to talk with your children about homelessness, how you can help fight poverty, and what you can do to make an impact in your community.

I need help


Hunger is curable. You can help.


Other Ways We Meet Needs