🚨 FREE IS FREE! CHICAGO & COOK COUNTY, COME GET THIS HELP! 💰🎒🥦

Aug 18

3 min read

Updated: Aug 20

730 BOOM RADIO | COMMUNITY BOOM

Listen, everything costs too damn much right now, so when somebody is giving away something FREE, Lady Red believes in passing the information along.

And I'm not talking about “free with a $79 purchase.” 😒

I'm talking groceries, school supplies, haircuts, clothing and other assistance available around Chicago and Cook County. Some programs have eligibility requirements or require registration, so check before making the trip.

🥦 FREE GROCERIES, AUGUST 20

The Kindness Campaign is holding its 75th Street Fresh Foods Market on Thursday, August 20, from noon to 2 p.m. at 703 E. 75th St.

Shoppers get to choose their own food, and the organization says participants select an average of about $150 worth of groceries FREE per market. Registration is available online.

Baby, $150 worth of groceries in 2026?!

GO GET THEM GROCERIES. 😂

🎒 FREE BACKPACKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, HAIRCUTS & MORE, AUGUST 20

Roberto Clemente Community Academy is holding its Back to School Jam Thursday, August 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1147 N. Western Ave.

They're offering free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last, plus free haircuts, manicures and quick hairstyles. There will also be food, games, activities and help scheduling required school physicals.

Clemente Back to School Jam information

Because sending these babies back to school already costs approximately one mortgage payment and your left kidney. Take the help. 😂

✂️ FREE HAIRCUTS & SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AUGUST 23

ChiGivesBack's Labor of Love returns Sunday, August 23.

The program provides free haircuts and school supplies for Chicago Public Schools students through participating barbershops on Chicago's South and West sides. Last year, organizers say they distributed 1,500 backpacks, more than 200 haircuts and hairstyles, plus free pediatric health screenings and dental exams.

Labor of Love registration and information

🎉 ANOTHER FREE BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT, AUGUST 23

The Kindness Campaign is also holding its annual Back 2 School Bash on Sunday, August 23, from 1 to 4 p.m. at its 75th Street location. Registration is currently listed on the organization's event page.

Back 2 School Bash registration

🛒 FREE GROCERIES & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS ON AN ONGOING BASIS

Pilsen Food Pantry at 2124 S. Ashland Ave. provides free groceries, and its programs also include El Mercadito Gratis, where people can access free clothing and household goods.

The pantry also has a weekday grocery-delivery program for qualifying homebound clients who have a referral from a social worker or caseworker.

So this isn't a one-day giveaway. This is a resource worth saving.

💡 WHAT ABOUT HELP WITH LIGHT & GAS BILLS?

Here's an important update.

The regular 2025-26 Illinois LIHEAP application period ended August 15, so I would NOT tell people that the regular application is still open today. However, Illinois also has Low Income Discount programs for utility customers. LIHEAP-enrolled customers may qualify automatically, while some other income-qualified households can receive discounts through their utility.

CEDA also says its assistance programs are free to apply for, so don't hand somebody money because they claim they can get you into a government utility program.

Illinois utility assistance information

💵 AND WHAT ABOUT THAT $500-A-MONTH COOK COUNTY MONEY?

This one needs a big WAIT A MINUTE BEFORE YOU START FILLING OUT RANDOM FACEBOOK APPLICATIONS.

Cook County's original Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot gave 3,250 Cook County families $500 every month for two years. Those payments ran from December 2022 through January 2025. Cook County says it is working on the next phase of guaranteed-income programming, but the county's official page does not currently show a new public application.

Official Cook County Promise page

So if somebody pops into your inbox talking about:

“Send me $49.99 and I'll get you approved for Cook County's $500...”

BLOCK TYRONE. 😭

Do not pay anybody.

🔴 LADY RED SAYS...

Listen, sometimes people don't use these programs simply because nobody told them they existed.

So SHARE THIS.

Tell your cousin.

Tell your neighbor.

Tell the mama trying to get three kids ready for school.

Tell Grandma.

Tell that friend sitting in the house trying to figure out how she's going to stretch $40 until Friday.

There is nothing embarrassing about using resources that were created for people to use.

If they're giving out groceries, GET THE GROCERIES.

If they're giving the babies backpacks, GET THE BACKPACKS.

If there's legitimate help with a bill, APPLY FOR THE HELP.

Everything costs enough already.

IF IT'S LEGIT, YOU QUALIFY AND IT'S FREE... GO GET YOUR DAMN FREE! 😂💰