Greater Chicago Food Depository official warns SNAP changes could remove benefits for many Illinois residents

Danielle Perry, vice president for policy, advocacy and community engagement at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, told residents at a "Tea with the Trustees" in Dolton that a recent federal bill will substantially shrink SNAP and shift some program costs to states.

"It cut SNAP by $200 billion," Perry said, and she said the legislation requires states to shoulder about 15 percent of benefit costs. "Fifteen sounds very small, but that's $800 million a year," she said, citing the effect on Illinois, which the Food Depository serves with federal SNAP dollars that total roughly $4.7 billion annually in her description.

Perry described immediate, operational changes she said will matter locally: the reinstatement or expansion of work‑reporting requirements (an 80‑hours‑per‑month standard for many adults), a raise in the age threshold for an exemption from 55 to 65, tightened veteran and homeless exemptions, and a narrower definition of which children count toward caregiver exemptions. Perry warned that, starting with state reporting that began in February, people found unemployed for three months in a three‑year period could lose SNAP benefits on May 1 and that the state estimates "hundreds of thousands" could be affected.

"We are preparing for that moment at the pantries," Perry said, describing increased purchases and readiness by the Food Depository and partner pantries across Cook County. She said SNAP is the most effective program to reduce hunger and that emergency pantry capacity cannot fully replace lost benefits: "For every meal we can provide in the emergency food system, SNAP provides nine."

During a short question-and-answer period, resident Beth (speaker S5) urged examination of donation rules that leave edible food in grocery dumpsters because of liability and "sell-by" regulations. Perry replied that the Food Depository already rescues donated food across Cook County and has developed a hub-and-spoke distribution system for partners; she said the organization also supports training volunteers and helping local organizations list volunteer opportunities on the state portal called Galaxy Digital so volunteer hours can count toward the work requirement.

Perry outlined advocacy steps the Food Depository is pursuing: asking the Illinois legislature for an emergency cash-assistance program to help people who lose benefits on May 1, mounting presence at county events to educate residents, and recruiting local "ambassadors" to explain the changes. She offered a one‑page toolkit and flyers with QR codes to sign up for training or the advocacy team.

Perry urged caution when discussing numbers: several figures she cited (the $200 billion national cut, the 15 percent state share, the $800 million figure for Illinois and the state estimate of hundreds of thousands losing benefits) were presented as her summary of the legislation and of state estimates rather than independent verification. She urged residents to use the Food Depository’s materials and local trainings to help people comply with reporting requirements and to support the organization's calls for relief in Springfield.

Next steps: the Food Depository is scheduling trainings and local outreach events, offering materials and volunteer‑registration assistance, and encouraging residents to join advocacy trips to Springfield and local volunteer efforts to prevent benefit loss.