In response to federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that are expected to leave hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents without food assistance, the Greater Chicago Food Depository hosted a volunteer event where members of the ‘Divine Nine’ fraternities and sororities packed over 16,000 pounds of bread for the organization’s network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs.
Why it matters
With one in five households in Chicago experiencing food insecurity, the Divine Nine’s volunteer efforts come at a critical time as the city braces for the impact of SNAP benefit reductions. The event highlights the fraternities and sororities’ longstanding commitment to community service and their ability to mobilize their members to address pressing social issues.
The details
Around 100 volunteers from all nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities that make up the Divine Nine participated in the fourth annual Black History Month repack event. The volunteers, representing multiple generations, worked in teams to pack loaves of bread into cardboard boxes, with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority claiming first place by repacking 2,676 pounds of bread. The Greater Chicago Food Depository is also working with state legislators to introduce bills that would analyze the impact of the SNAP changes and establish a temporary state-funded benefit program.
- The repack event took place on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
- The bread packed during the event will be distributed to food pantries throughout Cook County within a week.
