Food pantries across northern Illinois expect an increase in demand as a result of almost $200 billion in cuts in the next 10 years to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The cuts are part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Donald Trump signed into law July 4. The bill changes eligibility requirements, putting an estimated 360,000 Illinoisans at risk of losing SNAP benefits.

SNAP is a federal program that provides monthly benefits to low-income individuals and families to help them purchase food. Gov. JB Pritzker’ s office has said that almost 1 in 5 Illinois SNAP recipients are at risk of losing food benefits.

“With the SNAP benefits being reduced, we’re anticipating an increase in numbers,” said Alex Hurd, the executive director of the Kendall County Comm

See Full Page