Chicago College Opened Free Food Market
Kennedy-King College students can now access free groceries weekly through a new campus market model.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Healthy Food
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Kennedy-King College opened the Statesmen Market in February 2026 to provide students and their families with free food and household items. The facility aims to support students in Chicago where food insecurity remains a significant barrier to academic success.
Why it matters
This market addresses high rates of food insecurity among the student population while working to reduce the stigma often associated with emergency food assistance. By normalizing the experience, the college aims to improve access for students who might otherwise skip meals to focus on their studies.
A 2024 survey at Kennedy-King College identified that 60% of students were food insecure. This figure stands in contrast to the 23% national average for undergraduate students, highlighting a localized need that prompted the current intervention.
The players
Kennedy-King College
A higher education institution in Chicago that serves a student body where 80% are Black or Latino.
City Colleges of Chicago
A network of community colleges that serves 66,000 students and oversees the Food Security for Life initiative.
Greater Chicago Food Depository
A regional non-profit organization that supplies 4,000 pounds of food weekly to support campus food security.
The details
The Statesmen Market functions like a traditional grocery store, featuring aisles, carts, and baskets to provide a dignified shopping experience. It is stocked with 4,000 pounds of food delivered weekly by the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Students can also use an online system to order specific items and quantities from the pantry's warehouse to ensure their needs are met.
Timeline
2024: City Colleges of Chicago surveyed students on food insecurity.
2025: City Colleges launched the Food Security for Life initiative.
February 2026: Statesmen Market opened at Kennedy-King College.
Health Landscape
The Statesmen Market serves as a flagship pilot for the broader Food Security for Life initiative. This project aligns with a growing movement to address the campus-based food insecurity that affects four million undergraduate students across the United States.
Students at Kennedy-King College who are struggling to afford groceries may visit the market once per week to supplement their nutrition. If you or someone you know is facing difficulty accessing healthy meals, discuss available campus resources with a counselor or advisor.
The takeaway
Access to reliable, nutritious food is a fundamental pillar of health that significantly impacts a student's ability to focus and succeed academically. Students should consult their campus resource office to determine if similar pantry programs are available to them as part of their institution's wellness support.
Further reading
Learn more about the intersection of nutrition and student wellness in our Healthy Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Star.
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Do you believe colleges should prioritize providing free grocery-style food markets for their students?
