During the Great Depression Al Capone started one of the first soup kitchens, called “Free Soup Coffee & Doughnuts for the Unemployed.” Capone’s soup kitchen served breakfast, lunch and dinner to an average of 2,200 Chicagoans every day
One of the pioneering initiatives of Al Capone was the establishment of one of the earliest soup kitchens. Although the kitchen employed only a few individuals, it provided nourishment to a significantly larger number of people. This was especially crucial given that, prior to the enactment of the Social Security Act, “soup kitchens” like the one founded by Al Capone were often the sole source of meals for many unemployed Americans.