What started as an idea to fix a broken system launched a technology used by 120 food banks and 30,000 pantries nationwide, and is now growing to connect people with even more of the food, benefits, and programs they need to thrive.
CHICAGO, Sept. 22, 2026 — Many of the food, benefits, and support people need already exist. The problem is finding them. Resources are scattered across community organizations, government programs, and healthcare systems, leaving too many people to navigate disconnected systems on their own. Vivery was built to close that gap, and today, the company is unveiling the next chapter in that work.
It started more than a decade ago with a small team of technologists who saw a system that wasn’t working for the people it was meant to serve. They partnered closely with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to design technology shaped by the people working on the front lines of food insecurity every day. That approach earned Vivery a Chicago Innovation Award as one of the region’s most innovative social impact technology solutions.
That approach has taken Vivery from a single pilot to a technology partner for 120 food banks and 30,000 pantries nationwide, including the Northern Illinois Food Bank, one of its earliest partners.
“Vivery has helped us reach neighbors we might not have connected with otherwise, in a way that’s mobile-friendly and meets people where they are,” said Julie Yurko, President and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank. “What’s exciting is seeing Vivery continue to evolve, from helping people find food to connecting them with our Food is Medicine programs, which can make a real difference in their lives.”
Today, Vivery is launching its full platform and suite of solutions, expanding well beyond its original Find Food Map to make food and support easier to access and help community organizations do more for the people they serve. For neighbors, the free Vivery app is a single place to find nearby food, explore benefits and programs, and get real-time updates about support in their community. For pantries, it makes it easier to keep information current and communicate directly with neighbors. For food banks, it turns data into insights that show where needs are greatest, identify gaps, and strengthen programs. Vivery also powers Food is Medicine programs, connecting neighbors to medically tailored groceries and giving food banks the infrastructure to operate philanthropic and healthcare-funded programs.
“Food insecurity isn’t just a food problem; it’s a systems problem,” said Nasrin Thierer, Founder and CEO of Vivery. “Technology alone won’t fix that. But paired with the trust food banks and pantries have already earned, it can change what’s possible for neighbors and for the system meant to support them.”
The work, Vivery says, is far from finished. As it enters this next chapter, the company remains focused on the challenge that started it all: making it easier for people to get the help they need. Vivery has seen what technology can make possible—resources can be easier to find, organizations can reach more people, and more neighbors can get more of the food and support they need to thrive.
About Vivery
Vivery is a purpose-built technology platform with a mission to help people thrive through easy access to food, benefits, and care. Built on more than a decade of experience working alongside food banks and pantries, Vivery connects neighbors to food and trusted local support while helping community organizations strengthen programs and expand their impact. Vivery, a mission-driven public benefit corporation, today works with more than 120 food banks and 30,000 pantries across the country, and was recognized with a Chicago Innovation Award as one of the most innovative new technology solutions driving social impact in 2022. Learn more at vivery.com.
Vivery Community remains an independent nonprofit organization focused on expanding community-based food access programs across Chicago. Working alongside healthcare providers, food providers, and trusted community partners, Vivery Community continues to use Vivery technology to connect neighbors to nutritious food and essential resources.
Media Contact: Andrea Tucker,
