Barb Food Mart is a not-for-profit tax exempt organization founded in 2013 to help alleviate food insecurity for children and families in the DeKalb School District 428. More than 65% of the students in the district qualify for free and reduced meals. 

 

The food pantry purchases most of its food from Northern Illinois Food Bank, a non-profit organization that provides food at a greatly reduced rate of $1 for $8 worth of food to more than half a million people in a 13-county area in Illinois. We also source healthy fresh produce from local farmers, wholesalers and growers. 

 

In 2020, the pandemic forced the pantry to adopt a curbside-pickup model to allow for no contact pickup. We continue to see an increase in need, now serving 200-220 families each week. 

 

Barb Food Mart receives no direct government assistance and is not affiliated with any other organizations. It is dependent on donations from individuals, organizations, companies, and grant agencies and foundations.

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Mission Statement:

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Barb Food Mart is a food pantry that serves students and families in DeKalb School District 428. We promote dignity, equity and choice while reducing food insecurity and increasing access to community resources.

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Non Discrimination Statement:

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Barb Food Mart does not discriminate on the basis of age, citizenship, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, native language, race, religion or creed, or sexuality. All volunteers, donors, and parents or guardians of current DeKalb School District (D428) students are welcome at Barb Food Mart.