Center on Halsted opens new online food market offering free monthly groceries to 50 households

Up to 50 Chicago households will soon be able to get free groceries every month through a new online food market from Center on Halsted.

The market will be run out of the organization’s South Side location, the Center on Cottage Grove at 6323 S. Cottage Grove Ave. The food distribution program is a partnership with Nourishing Hope and The HUB, a collaboration between the AIDS Foundation Chicago and Center on Halsted.

Starting next week, participants can order the groceries online for pick-up. Orders are placed on the third Monday of each month, and are picked up on the following Wednesday. Different food options will be available through each distribution.

"The Online Market is designed to make it easier for people living in food-insecure neighborhoods, including areas considered food deserts, to access pantry staples," Center on Halsted said in a news release about the program.

The market is an extension of the "Instacart for food pantries" model operated by Nourishing Hope. The program allows people to browse the available food options and pick what works best for them and their families. The HUB will also provide social services to participants when they collect the groceries.

"We are committed to ensuring that everyone in our community, regardless of background or circumstances, has access to nutritious food, especially at a time when food costs are rising,” said Jasmine Mikell of the Center on Halsted in a statement.

For people interested in signing up, visit here for more information on how to get enrolled and access the online market. An informational session about the market will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Center on Cottage Grove where people can also sign up for the program in-person.