Approximately 48 million Americans struggle with food insecurity daily, grappling with accessing reliable, safe and nutritious meals due to economic and social hardships. In Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding areas, it is estimated that 50,000 children and adults face regular, inadequate access to food.
To help combat local hunger, one Forest Park business owner and hundreds of community members gathered last Saturday at Madison Street and Circle Avenue for an afternoon of live music, food, drinks, backyard games and raffles. The goal was to raise money and awareness for neighborhood organizations dedicated to addressing food insecurity.
Robert’s Westside hosted the Food Aid Festival, now in its fifth year, a combination weekend music festival and block party. Proceeds were earmarked to benefit six local food nonprofits: A House in Austin, Austin Eats Initiative, Best of Proviso Township, Beyond Hunger, the Community Fridge Project and Westchester Food Pantry.
The event was free to attend, with a suggested $20 donation.
Donnie Biggins, owner of the live music venue and bar, said Food Aid Festival brings people together for the good cause of raising awareness about food insecurity.
“Wealth inequality is at an all time high in America right now,” he said. “Not everyone can afford a high-ticket priced concert to support our efforts, so we have created the Food Aid Block Party. We allow for people to attend, get educated and enjoy themselves while donating what they can to the cause.”
Though donations are still coming in, Biggins estimated about $10,000 was raised through this weekend’s event.
Launched in the summer of 2022, Food Aid Festival blossomed from Biggins’ friendship with community activist Anthony Clark and WBEZ Radio senior event producer Eddie Medrano and was created with the intention of uniting different skills to make a positive impact in the community.
“One of many direct results of wealth inequality is food insecurity,” Biggins said. “Currently, about 1 in 4 households are considered food insecure, and 1 in 4 Cook County children are at risk of hunger. Food Aid Festival was created to educate our community about the organizations doing the work to fight this silent epidemic in our community.”
A band plays live music during the Food Aid Block Party near Robert’s Westside on Aug. 22, 2026. Bands such as High & Lonesome, Strawdaddy and Pipes were featured during Saturday’s events. Credit: Sydney Lovan 
Attendees of the Food Aid Block Party enjoy the event on Aug. 22, 2026, near Robert’s Westside in Forest Park. Credit: Sydney Lovan 
The Food Aid Festival flyer gives information on the event as attendees enjoy the Block Party on Aug. 22, 2026 near Robert’s Westside in Forest Park. Credit: Sydney Lovan
Each year, Biggins reaches out to bands, singers and DJs he has strong working relationships with to put together a diverse music lineup for the festival. Alongside food, cocktails and patio games, this year’s event featured the sounds of folk/acoustic music, blues and alternative rock.
River Forest resident Fabiola Harnisch and Oak Park resident Bill Silver, both volunteers with Oak Park-based hunger relief nonprofit Beyond Hunger, were happy to see the excitement from fest attendees eager to help their neighbors facing hardship.
“We’re in communities where people are aware of food insecurity,” Harnisch said. “People are very receptive to us, and we’re in a great space for awareness. Everybody is welcome with open arms, and I feel they leave us perhaps with a little more dignity because they walk away knowing there’s a place here to help nourish them.”
Since 1978, Beyond Hunger has helped provide hunger-relief programming and services across Cook County, including portions of Chicago and the near-west suburbs. Earlier this year, the group purchased a new location on North Avenue in Oak Park to serve as both a headquarters and modern, accessible pantry for neighbors to access food and services. The new location is set to open in early 2027.
Silver said that while some may perceive Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park as financially secure communities, Beyond Hunger recognizes the fact that people from all walks of life — and at any time in life — can and do face hardships in accessing quality food.
“In our communities, there are many people who do struggle,” he said. “What separates Beyond Hunger is that unlike food pantries where people get a pre-packaged amount of food, with us, people are allowed to select their own food geared toward their needs.”
Karen McMillin, an Oak Park resident and board member with the Community Fridge Project, was grateful her organization was a beneficiary of the Food Aid Festival.
Community Fridge Project, which maintains six public, outdoor community fridges, is accessible 24/7 and is 100 percent volunteer run, with over 90 volunteers.
“We all know that food insecurity is here and growing, and we’re seeing increasing traffic at all of our locations,” McMillin said. “The more we get out there, people will start to hear about us, recognize us and remember our logo. When they’re driving down the road, they’ll remember we have fridges and pantries in many convenient locations across the area — whether they want to drop off food or need food.”
Pleased with the event’s turnout, Biggins noted he only anticipates more enthusiasm and greater attendance at the fest for years to come.
“We had a steady flow of participation from many different folks here in Forest Park, Oak Park, Maywood and River Forest,” he said. “I hope to continue building the Block Party every single year, and I hope more people will become active in supporting our many community fridges, volunteering at our food pantries and educating their families to combat food insecurity.”