Hunger is a serious issue, and no one in our community should have to experience it. The Northern Illinois Food Bank is committed to ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food, free of charge, when they need it most. My Pantry Express is a key program in achieving this mission, providing a convenient online food pantry right at your fingertips.
My Pantry Express is an innovative online platform created and run by the Northern Illinois Food Bank, working closely with local community partners. It allows individuals and families facing food insecurity to easily order groceries online for pickup or delivery* at no cost. It’s designed to be user-friendly and accessible to everyone. Here’s how simple it is to use My Pantry Express:
- Go to www.MyPantryExpress.org and click the “Begin Order” button to start your online grocery shopping experience.
- You’ll see a checkbox at the top of the page. Simply check this box to confirm that you are in need of food assistance. This helps us ensure our resources are going to those who need them most.
- Browse the calendar to find a My Pantry Express location that is convenient for you. Once you’ve selected a location and time, you can begin choosing your groceries online.
- Your selected food items will be carefully packed into boxes. You can then pick up your order or, in select areas, have it delivered* at your chosen time and location.
Currently, My Pantry Express is being piloted in specific areas within Joliet, Rockford, DeKalb, and the Waukegan and North Chicago regions. To find out if pickup or delivery* is available in your specific area, please visit the My Pantry Express website for the most up-to-date location and service information.
Frequently Asked Questions for New My Pantry Express Customers
Many individuals and families in Northern Illinois face difficult financial situations, often having to make tough choices between essential needs like housing, food, healthcare, and education. My Pantry Express, a program of the Northern Illinois Food Bank, is designed to alleviate some of this burden by improving access to food. It helps households increase the quality, variety, quantity, and overall appeal of the food they have available, making a positive impact on their well-being.
Eligibility for My Pantry Express is based on self-identified need. The Northern Illinois Food Bank understands that food insecurity can affect anyone, and we aim to remove barriers to access. Therefore, there are no strict requirements based on income, residency, SNAP eligibility, or other specific criteria. If you are currently experiencing a need for more food, you are welcome to shop with My Pantry Express.
Alt text: My Pantry Express website homepage showcasing online grocery ordering for food assistance from Northern Illinois Food Bank.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank is committed to serving individuals and families who are struggling to meet their basic needs due to limited resources. To maintain our non-profit status and ensure responsible food distribution, the IRS requires us to be mindful of how and to whom our food is distributed. By confirming your need when you use My Pantry Express, you are simply acknowledging that you are in need of our food assistance services.
The privacy of our My Pantry Express users is important. We want to assure you that we never sell any personal information we collect. For detailed information about our data handling practices, please refer to our comprehensive Privacy Policy available on the My Pantry Express website.
To facilitate order processing and communication, we collect your name, phone number, email address, and zip code. Occasionally, we may ask if you would be willing to participate in optional surveys or focus groups to help us evaluate and improve the My Pantry Express program. Your feedback is valuable in helping us serve the community better.
For users who prefer to use My Pantry Express in a language other than English, we offer a language selection feature. In the upper right-hand corner of the website, you will find a drop-down box. Simply click on the down arrow and choose your preferred language from the available options.
To help you remember your order pickup or delivery, we will send you reminders via email and phone call. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your My Pantry Express order, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 630-443-6393. You can also reach us via email at [email protected]. We are here to assist you.
When you go to pick up your My Pantry Express order, please remember to bring your order confirmation number. This number is essential for efficient order retrieval and can be found in your confirmation email, just before the item details. It is also displayed on the order confirmation page immediately after you submit your order online. Please note that pickup locations are location specific, so ensure you are going to the correct location indicated in your confirmation.
You do not need to bring your own shopping bags when picking up your My Pantry Express groceries. Your order will be conveniently packed and provided in grocery bags, making it easy for you to transport your food.
Please be aware that the My Pantry Express shopping list may vary from week to week. While the available items may change, the Northern Illinois Food Bank strives to consistently offer pantry staples, dairy products, frozen meats, and fresh produce each week to provide a balanced selection of nutritious food.
While we are committed to providing a wide variety of food through My Pantry Express, we are unable to fulfill specific item requests at this time. However, your feedback is highly valuable as we continuously work to expand and improve our offerings. Please feel free to share any suggestions you have with us at any time by emailing [email protected]. Your input helps us enhance the My Pantry Express experience for everyone in the future!
Typically, there will be approximately 35 different food items available for you to choose from each week on My Pantry Express. This selection includes items like milk, a variety of fresh produce, frozen meats, canned goods, and much more. Each item listed on the website indicates its capacity, letting you know how much of that item is available when making your selections.
You are welcome to place an order through My Pantry Express on a weekly basis if needed. However, please keep in mind that there is a maximum capacity for the number of orders we can fulfill each week. Our aim is to gradually increase this order capacity as the My Pantry Express pilot program continues to grow. If we reach our weekly capacity, we will temporarily close order submissions until the next order window opens. We will always announce on the website when the order window will re-open for upcoming pickup or delivery dates, and we encourage you to check the website regularly to submit your new order.
To ensure efficient processing and preparation of your My Pantry Express order, please submit your order at least three business days (Monday – Friday) before your scheduled pickup date, excluding holidays. This advance notice allows our team and partners to prepare your order accurately and have it ready for you.
Once you have successfully submitted your My Pantry Express order, an email confirmation will be automatically sent to the email address you provided during checkout. Please save this confirmation for your records and bring the order number with you for pickup.
If you do not receive an email confirmation within 24 hours of placing your order, please first check your email’s junk or spam folder, as sometimes automated emails can be filtered there. If you still cannot find your confirmation email in any folder, please contact us at 630.443.6914 or email [email protected] for assistance. We can verify your order and resend the confirmation if necessary.
Alt text: Fresh produce section at Northern Illinois Food Bank warehouse, showcasing variety and abundance of food for distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions for Current My Pantry Express Customers
Currently, My Pantry Express pickup locations are being tested and evaluated at various sites, including retailers, schools, and community centers. These pickup locations may be subject to change as we assess program effectiveness and community needs.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank is continually evaluating the My Pantry Express program to ensure it effectively serves the community. If there are any changes to pickup times or locations in the future, we will communicate these updates to all My Pantry Express clients promptly.
If the currently offered pickup times and/or locations are not convenient for you, please visit the Northern Illinois Food Bank’s main website at www.SolveHungerToday.org/GetHelp to find information on other food pantries and on-site feeding programs that may be closer to you or better fit your schedule. The Northern Illinois Food Bank and its partner network offer a wide range of food assistance options throughout Northern Illinois.
To easily access your order information for pickup, remember to save your confirmation email after you initially submit your order. Your order number, scheduled pickup date, and pickup location are all clearly listed near the top of the confirmation email, just before the detailed list of items in your order.
If your ability to pick up your My Pantry Express order changes, we would greatly appreciate it if you could let us know as soon as possible! Please contact us at 630.443.6914 OR email [email protected] with any updates or concerns regarding your order. Your communication helps us manage our resources effectively and serve others in need.
Yes, someone else can pick up your My Pantry Express order for you. If you are unable to pick up your order personally, you can authorize another person to do so. However, they will need to have your order number to collect your groceries. Please ensure they have this number to facilitate a smooth pickup process.
If you need to cancel your My Pantry Express order, please call us or email us at 630.443.6914 or [email protected] as soon as possible to inform us of your cancellation.
If you know in advance that you will not be able to pick up your order, we would greatly appreciate it if you could notify us to cancel your order. This is especially helpful because we have a limited number of orders we can fulfill at each pickup site. By cancelling your order if you cannot make it, we can offer that spot to another My Pantry Express shopper who is waiting for food assistance. You are welcome to submit a new order at your convenience for a future date.
Unfortunately, once your My Pantry Express order has been submitted, we are unable to change your pickup location or reschedule your order to a different time or date. Please carefully choose the pickup location that you are sure you will be able to get to when placing your order.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your My Pantry Express order, please contact us as soon as possible. You can reach us by phone at 630.443.6914 or by email at [email protected]. We are here to help and address any issues you may encounter.
If you do not receive an email confirmation within 24 hours of placing your My Pantry Express order, please check your junk or spam email folder first. If it is not there, and you cannot find it anywhere in your email account, please contact us at 630.443.6914 or email [email protected]. We will assist you in locating your confirmation or resending it.
Delivery Questions for My Pantry Express
My Pantry Express currently offers grocery delivery services in several counties in Northern Illinois, including Kane County, DuPage County, Will County, Winnebago County, DeKalb County, and Lake County. We are working to expand our delivery service to reach more communities in need.
Currently, our delivery pilot program can only accommodate individuals and families who reside within a 10-mile radius of each designated delivery location listed on the My Pantry Express website. Please visit mypantryexpress.org/locations to view the specific addresses of each delivery location and determine if your address falls within the delivery radius.
If the address you submit for delivery is outside of our current delivery radius, or if we do not receive your address information, we will unfortunately have to cancel your order. If your order is cancelled due to address issues, we will send you an email notification informing you of the cancellation three business days before your scheduled delivery date.
To place an order for My Pantry Express delivery, you must select one of the locations specifically designated as “Delivery” locations when you begin your order. At this time, we only offer delivery from locations clearly marked as “Delivery,” such as “Will- Joliet Delivery,” “KANE- Geneva Delivery,” “Winnebago- Rockford Delivery,” “Lake- Evening Delivery,” and “Lake- Afternoon Delivery.” After selecting a delivery location, choose the grocery items you need for the week and submit your order as usual. It is crucial to carefully read your order confirmation email after submitting your order, as it will contain instructions on how to submit your delivery address for each order you place.
Please ensure that you carefully read your My Pantry Express order confirmation email and submit your delivery address using the provided form every time you place a delivery order. This address submission is required for each order to ensure accurate and timely delivery.
If we do not receive a completed address form by 10 am three business days in advance of your scheduled delivery, your order will be automatically cancelled. This deadline is necessary to allow our delivery partners to plan routes and ensure efficient delivery service.
Delivery service through My Pantry Express is completely free of charge! My Pantry Express and the Northern Illinois Food Bank, in partnership with DoorDash, cover all delivery fees, including driver tips. You will not incur any costs for having your groceries delivered to your home.
You are welcome to order My Pantry Express delivery on a weekly basis, as long as you are within our delivery service areas and meet the ordering deadlines.
If you have a My Pantry Express account, you can cancel your delivery order directly through your account. Simply log in, find the relevant order, and click “cancel.” Cancellations must be made at least 3 business days before your scheduled delivery date to allow for proper planning.
For cancellations made after the 3-business-day deadline, or if you do not have a My Pantry Express account, please email us with your order date and order number to request a cancellation. Delivery orders must be cancelled at least 4 hours before the scheduled delivery time. Orders cancelled within 4 hours of the delivery time will still be delivered as they will already be en route.
Please note that you may only order from My Pantry Express once per week. This limit applies to both delivery and pickup orders. You can choose either one delivery OR one pickup per week, but not both. This helps us manage program capacity and serve as many individuals and families as possible.
For My Pantry Express Account Holders
To create a My Pantry Express account, you will need a valid email address, a valid phone number, and to create a secure password. Having an account simplifies the ordering process for repeat users and allows you to manage your orders more easily.
If you have forgotten your My Pantry Express password, simply click on the “Lost your password?” link on the account login page. You will be guided through the password reset process, typically involving sending a password reset link to your registered email address.
Your My Pantry Express account number is easily accessible within your account dashboard. After logging in to your account, your account number will be displayed in your dashboard for your reference.
You can easily edit your account information at any time. After logging in, go to your account dashboard and click on “Account Details” in the left-side menu. You can then modify your account information, such as your phone number or email address, in this section.
To view your past and current My Pantry Express orders, log in to your account and click on “Orders” in the left-side menu. This will take you to your order history, where you can see a list of all your previous and pending orders.
If you need to make changes to an existing My Pantry Express order, you can do so through your account. In your order history, find the order you wish to modify, and click “edit.” Please note that changes to orders must be made at least 3 business days before your scheduled pickup or delivery date to be processed.
To cancel an order through your account, view your order history, find the order you wish to cancel, and click “cancel.” Cancellations must be made at least 3 business days before the scheduled pickup date for pickup orders. For delivery order cancellations within 4 hours of delivery, please email us with your order details as described in the delivery FAQ section. For cancellations within the 3-business-day window for pickup orders, please also email us with your order date and order number to ensure timely cancellation.
If you wish to place a new My Pantry Express order that is similar to a previous order, you can use the “Order Again” feature. In your order history, find the previous order you want to repeat and click “Order Again.” This will quickly populate your cart with the items from your previous order. If you want to see what other items are currently available, click on “Shop” to browse the full selection. Then proceed through the checkout process as usual. Please remember that using the “Order Again” feature does not guarantee that previously ordered items are currently in stock, so always double-check your cart before completing your checkout.
My Pantry Express, powered by the Northern Illinois Food Bank, is here to help provide food assistance to our community. Visit www.MyPantryExpress.org today to get started and access the nutritious food you need.
