Black Lives Matter Chicago is piloting a food box program to address hunger in neighborhoods where it says food is too scarce. The inspiration comes from little free libraries, boxes that encourage neighbors to take a book or give a book.
In its pilot food box, Black Lives Matter is filling a repainted newspaper vending box with non-perishable food items. Aislinn Pulley, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Chicago, said it’s an expansion of the group’s role in Chicago.
“We’re looking at police who kill and murder and terrorize our communities, but we’re also looking at why our communities are impoverished,” she said. “One small aspect of that is food insecurity.”
Pulley said the food box works as a concrete way to address food insecurity while also drawing attention to the inequality behind it.
The first box is located in the Bronzeville Community Garden at 51st Street and South Calumet Avenue. The box was installed in September.
Pulley said Black Lives Matter Chicago eventually would like to have six food boxes on the South and West sides.
Andrew Gill is a digital producer for WBEZ. Follow him@andrewgill.
