One of America’s most iconic baseball parks is doubling as a food pantry to address the growing number of Chicagoans struggling to provide for themselves and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lakeview Food Pantry CEO Kellie O’Connell said the nonprofit is using extra space at Wrigley Field to safely socially distance while responding to a 140% increase in demand since March 16.

“As unemployment rises, people for the first time in a long time – or maybe the first time ever – have to figure out how to put food on their table,” O’Donnell said. “And we’re here to help them do that.”

More video of Wrigley Field's food pantry site for my @wttw story airing tonight. @LakeviewPantry volunteers here are packing a daily average of 1,200 boxes of food distributed at the ballpark, a Humboldt Park pantry w. @LaCasaNorte and another site in Wrigleyville: pic.twitter.com/9Fm4H2LtZ0

— Evan Garcia (@EvanRGarcia) April 20, 2020

On Saturday, its first day of distribution at Wrigley Field, the food pantry served 343 households approximately 1,700 boxes or bags of food containing fresh produce, dairy, frozen meats and shelf-stable foods.

Every Saturday and Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m., the Lakeview Food Pantry will distribute food at Wrigley Field’s right field gate, located at 1060 W. Addison St. The nonprofit said the temporary site will continue as long as food demand is high – and baseball at Wrigley Field is canceled, of course.

Follow Evan Garcia on Twitter: @EvanRGarcia