The Friendship Pet Food Pantry provides free, nutritious dog and cat food for Chicago residents who are in need of temporary assistance to feed their pets.


Pet Food Distribution
Third Saturday of every month: 9 – 11 a.m.

2025 Dates
Dec. 13*
*Due to holiday giveaways at The Friendship Center, distribution will be on the 2nd Saturday of December 2025.

2026 Dates
January 17, February 21, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 14*, and December 12*.
*Due to holiday giveaways at The Friendship Center, distribution will be on the 2nd Saturday of November and December 2026.

Food & Other Items
In addition to providing dog and cat food, the pantry can usually provide kitty litter, treats and, when available, leashes, bowls and new or gently used toys.
Shop our wishlist items that will ship directly to The Friendship Center.

Support
We appreciate all our neighbors who want to help families and their pets stay together. If you’re interested in hosting a pet food drive please contact Shea Lynch at info@friendshipcenterchicago.org. Additionally, you can make a donation to help provide food and supplies to our families in need. Every donated dollar helps feed two pets.

Residency
Anyone who lives in the city of Chicago is eligible for assistance; there are no zip code or income requirements.

Please view the full guidelines for receiving pet food assistance prior to your first visit.

Why a Pet Food Pantry?

The Friendship Pet Food Pantry’s mission is to keep Chicago families and their pets together. We do this by providing high-quality pet food and supplies to families experiencing financial hardship so no one is forced to decide between caring for themselves and caring for their companion animals. Pets are family members, too; sometimes they are the only family a person has.

The Pet Pantry serves an average 150 dogs and 300 cats per month. We also refer pet owners to local veterinary services for low-cost spaying and neutering. Our efforts help to reduce the number of dogs and cats surrendered to shelters or abandoned each year because their owners cannot afford food or veterinary care.

The Friendship Pet Food Pantry was founded by community members in 2013 before becoming a permanent program of The Friendship Center. Read more about its history.

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