'Big Bag Tuesday'

More than 30 volunteers help staff the soup kitchen and food pantry at Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church.

The kitchen was humming at Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church in the Oakland neighborhood. Grocery bags full of meat, pasta, beans, tuna, and fresh fruit were being loaded onto carts on a sunny Tuesday afternoon in May, while a line began to form in the church lobby. It’s Tuesday, which means the church is distributing food and hot meals to clients. But, it wasn't just any Tuesday.

It was “Big Bag Tuesday.”

That’s what Program Coordinator Lillie Dawson calls the second Tuesday of each month, when a Greater Chicago Food Depository truck drops off thousands of pounds of food which then gets distributed to people who need help making ends meet in the community.

“We give out bags of food every week, but it won’t be as much as we give today,” she said. “Today the clients are getting a bag with meat, a bag with groceries and a bag with fruits and vegetables, all from the Food Depository.”

Clients get more food to take home on "Big Bag Tuesday" because that is the week the pantry receives fresh produce and meat in addition to shelf-stable food from the Food Depository. The rest of the items will be distributed throughout the month.

Operation P.U.L.L., or People United to Lift Lives, has been keeping up with the increasing need in the Kenwood, Oakland and Grand Boulevard communities since it started as a bi-monthly food distribution at the church 30 years ago.

Lillie has been the program coordinator for nearly four years and has been a volunteer at the church for 13 years.

 “Every year there are more and more people coming through the doors,” she said. “They come to us for help and we don’t turn anyone away.”

The weekly hot meal soup kitchen was added in 1986. Since its inception, Operation P.U.L.L. has received most of its food from the Food Depository.

“People know that we’re here. We are a consistent force in the community. Being connected to the Food Depository helps us so much,” said Rosalind Morgan, who started volunteering at the church after her mother founded the food pantry program in 1983.

The community has continually supported the church's mission. About 30 volunteers operate the pantry every Tuesday and hundreds of people have volunteered since the pantry opened.

“Volunteers come from all over,” Rosalind said. “They are so dedicated. They come in snow, rain, sleet, hail, whatever. They’re that dedicated.”

A volunteer loads grocery bags onto a cart at Grant Memorial A.M.E. Church. The bags, full of food from the Food Depository, will be distributed to anyone who needs them at the soup kitchen.

 Every Tuesday, more than 150 people come to the church for a hot meal and groceries. One of those regulars is William Garner. He has been coming to the pantry for five years because he needs help supplementing the food he gets with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits on his LINK card.

“The LINK card isn’t enough to stretch through the month. Food is expensive,” said William. “This pantry comes in very handy for a lot of people in this neighborhood.

Today, William will get a hot meal plus a bag with meat, canned goods, bread, fruits and vegetables.

“I’m just very grateful that they’re here,” he said.

William is one of 807,000 people in Cook County - 1 in 6 - who are food insecure. Consider a donation to the Food Depository to help fight hunger in our community.

Numbering the need

Five years after the beginning of the economic downturn, hunger in Cook County continues to affect hundreds of thousands of people. New data from the Greater Chicago Food Depository is highlighting the extent of that need in our community.

 “What concerns me is against a backdrop of economic optimism, we continue to see a very different story as it relates to the people who are turning to food pantries and soup kitchens,” said Greater Chicago Food Depository Executive Director and CEO Kate Maehr.

According to recent Food Depository year-to-date data, there has been a staggering 78 percent increase in individuals served at pantries compared to the same period five years ago.

 “We continue to see a record number of people in our community who need food from food pantries in order to make ends meet. As we begin to think about what it looks like in the long term, it becomes increasingly clear that this new normal is one that we’re going to be seeing for a long time,” Kate said.

Further, in March 2013 there were 411,311 individuals served at pantries and 130,742 household visits to pantries in Cook County.

 “It’s going to take continued, sustained efforts to make sure we have quality, nutritious food available and it firms our resolve to be even more aggressive in thinking about how to shorten those lines through our advocacy and programmatic efforts,” Kate said.

The pace of pantry visits has also increased compared to last year. If the first half of FY 2013 is repeated, there will be 308,217 more individual visits compared to last year.

And that’s not a new trend.

Every month in FY 2012 except September saw an increase in the number of individual visits to food pantries. There were 297,742 more visits last year compared to 2011, which averages to 24,812 additional visits per month.

Lillie Dawson sees the growing need every week. She’s the soup kitchen and food pantry program coordinator at Grant Memorial A.M.E Church in Oakland, which has been distributing food from the Food Depository for 30 years.

“Every year there are more and more people. Without the Food Depository, we wouldn’t be able to do what we’ve done for so long,” she said.

There are more than 807,000 men, women and children in Cook County who are food insecure – meaning they’re not sure where their next meal will come from. To learn all the ways you can join the fight against hunger in our community, visit chicagosfoodbank.org.

Lifting our voice: Lobby Day 2013

Anti-hunger advocates gather on the steps of the Illinois State Capitol on May 1, 2013.

Sometimes the fight to end hunger in Cook County requires us to climb the legislative food chain.

That’s what Springfield Lobby Day 2013 was all about.

More than 175 partners, volunteers and staff of the Greater Chicago Food Depository traveled to Springfield on May 1 to discuss ways to end hunger with our elected officials and to lobby for continued support of state and federal programs that help fight hunger.

Doug Schenkelberg is the Food Depository’s vice president of advocacy and outreach.

“All the lawmakers we met with said that they’re in agreement, that hunger is something we have to be fighting and there are way too many people facing food insecurity,” he said.

Government sources make up 62 percent of the nutrition safety net in Illinois.

That’s why Lobby Day is critical, Doug said.

“Government programs play a huge role in us being able to get good quality food out to people. Without that, there isn’t the ability for the private sector to make up that gap.”

This year, anti-hunger advocates with the Food Depository encouraged lawmakers to reject a $5 million cut that would reduce state reimbursements for the Free and Reduced School Breakfast and Lunch Program, and support a $12 million budget increase for the Older Adults Feeding Program.

During the 2011-2012 school year, schools received only 5 cents of additional reimbursement per meal from the state. A proposed FY 2014 budget plan would cut that tiny amount even further, slashing the total available reimbursement funding by 37 percent.

On a federal level, lawmakers have proposed a $20 billion cut to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“If SNAP is cut, there isn’t food there that can replace the system,” Doug said. “The system is already running at peak with the demand that’s out there.”

But there is certainly reason for optimism, because lawmakers are listening.

State Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) addresses Food Depository advocates.

“Lawmakers were empathetic with our positions and what we’re challenged to do," said Herman Carnie, the Food Depository’s Director of Food Acquisition, who made the trip for the first time. "I think it really helped them to see the number of green shirts that were there. I think it helped them to see that it wasn’t just one face asking them. It was a whole contingent of people passionate about what they’re doing,” he said.

Food Depository Executive Director and CEO Kate Maehr called Lobby Day, “one of the best days of my life.”

“I think there’s this incredible power in seeing people begin to take the opportunity to lift their own voices. We have to continue to push this forward,” she said.

To see more photos from Lobby Day, check out our Facebook page.

A refreshed look

Since 2010 and the start of its five-year Strategic Plan, the Food Depository has been researching its brand as part of efforts to mobilize the public to end hunger. Prophet, a leading brand agency, began a comprehensive brand assessment in 2012. Prophet’s research showed that a refreshed logo would help the Food Depository better leverage its brand to gain more support to end hunger. The logo, the first new design in more than 25 years, was unveiled on April 26.

The refreshed design reflects the proud history of the Food Depository while looking to a bright future made possible by partners who share a common belief – that no one should go hungry in our community.

All logo design efforts were donated by Prophet.

AmeriCorps partnership helps serve the hungry in Garfield Park

Every year, the Greater Chicago Food Depository hosts AmeriCorps members through the AmeriCorps State/National Program. The individuals are placed in member agencies and are utilized to assist with day-to-day pantry operations, community volunteer recruitment and retention, fundraising and nutrition and health education. The following post is an update from AmeriCorps member Tonisha Daniel, who is currently serving at Breakthrough Urban Ministries in Garfield Park:

I am completing my second AmeriCorps service year as a volunteer coordinator for Breakthrough Urban Ministries Fresh Market Department. Breakthrough's Fresh Market is a dynamic food client choice food pantry which provides shelf-stable food, fresh produce, meat, and dairy products to between 800 - 1000 households every month in the east Garfield Park community. In addition to managing more than 60 volunteers I also help provide members of the community with access to additional resources, services, and learning opportunities with the ultimate goal of helping establish a self-reliant, sustaining community.




Breakthrough Urban Ministries Fresh Market

The majority of our food received comes from the Greater Chicago Food Depository every two weeks. Food provided by the Food Depository allows us to feed our growing number of clients we serve each week and allows us to distribute food three days every week. I see ever day how the Greater Chicago Food Depository helps neighborhood pantries  strengthen communities.

Fresh Market recently established Friends and Family Week to increase hunger awareness, reach out to community members and honor our volunteers. This was our first event and it went so well that we’ve decided to host it twice every year. Volunteers brought their friends and family, staff members joined in the festivities and all were able to experience the great things that happen at Fresh Market. During that week we signed up 10 new volunteers and we honored one of our longtime volunteers for their outstanding commitment and service.



Friends and Family Week at Breakthrough Urban Ministries

Volunteering at Breakthrough Urban Ministries has definitely opened my eyes to a world outside of my own. I grew up in a safe, comfortable environment with my family and knew nothing about what poverty or food insecurity looked like. This entire two-year journey has definitely opened my eyes and helped shape my future career path. While completing my AmeriCorps commitment, I have learned four important lessons of community development and engagement: (1) the importance of assessment and evaluation, (2) the delicate process of working with a variety of stakeholders, (3) the absolute necessity of providing a clear, long-term vision, and (4) the importance of leadership to inspire others to act.

The Food Depository and AmeriCorps have taught me the importance of organizations that are not afraid to think outside of the box. Not only will I work tirelessly to advocate for marginalized individuals and communities, but I hope to partner with other community leaders in efforts to alleviate issues such as poverty, job insecurity, and insufficient resources that affect many neighborhoods in the Chicago area.

For more information on the Food Depository's programs and how you can support the fight against hunger, visit chicagosfoodbank.org

Kate Maehr receives Dick Goebel Award

Kate Maehr, Executive Director and CEO

Kate Maehr has made advocacy a priority as Executive Director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Last night, Kate's efforts gained national recognition. Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, presented Kate the 2013 Dick Goebel Public Service award at the National Anti-Hunger Conference in Washington. The award is given to the individual who exemplifies service to their communities, extensive public policy advocacy, and tireless energy and creativity in developing solutions to help reach increasing numbers. 

“Kate has placed advocacy at the core of the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s work during her tenure as the Executive Director. Through her leadership, she has helped to engage anti-hunger advocates throughout Illinois, getting busloads of people to go to Springfield to develop and move forward recommendations to address the needs of the most vulnerable in our communities,” said Bob Aiken, President and CEO of Feeding America. “She has developed strong relationships with leaders in local, state, and federal government, always pressing for, protecting and strengthening the federal food and nutrition safety net. Kate shows this passion and commitment every day and typifies everything that this award represents.”

Through Kate's leadership, Illinois established its first Commission to End Hunger, a permanent body chaired by Kate and Illinois Deputy Governor Cristal Thomas. Advocacy is a key element of the Food Depository's five-year Strategic Plan, leading to successes including the establishment of a champion-advocates network of member agency leaders who advocate for strong food and nutrition policy. Kate has led representatives of member agencies on visits to Springfield and Washington, meeting with elected officials to let them know of the severity of hunger in Cook County. She also has hosted a number of key elected officials at the Food Depository, including Sen. Dick Durbin, Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, to discuss policies that affect the lives of hungry people. Every September, in Hunger Action Month, Kate takes part in the SNAP Challenge to raise awareness of the difficulty of living on a SNAP/Food Stamp budget. She has activated Food Depository supporters, including board members, donors and volunteers, to send letters and make calls to their elected officials on key issues.

The Dick Goebel Award was created in 2001 to honor the founder of the St. Paul Food Bank. Goebel was a powerful force in the creation and expansion of the food bank network nationwide. Past recipients include a number of notable figures in national hunger-relief efforts. Congratulations, Kate! We are proud to be part of your team.    

SNAP Challenge: Day Six

For the past six days members of the Greater Chicago Food Depository staff have been taking the SNAP Challenge – eating on just $35 for seven days (the average weekly benefit of an individual living on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps).

During the Challenge, Chief Financial Officer Donald Tusek and Vice President of Supply Chain Gerry Maguire have been journaling about their experience eating for a week on just $35:

Donald Tusek

The monotony of the diet is starting to get to me.  My core dinner has been macaroni and cheese with ground beef.  It keeps me full, but the taste is bland.  I look forward to the small salad I have along with my dinner.  

My original plan was to eat the macaroni and cheese during the week and use the other whole grain pasta with a spaghetti sauce for the last couple of days.  I decided to make the pasta and marinara midweek and alternate for the remainder of the Challenge just to get more variety. 

I purchased two jars of combined peanut butter and jelly and have been taking a spoonful of that as my “dessert” after dinner.  

 ---

Gerry Maguire

I have had the same meals - cereal for breakfast each morning, chili for lunch and soup for dinner – everyday this week.  My snack through the day has been 3-4 pieces of fruit. While I got a good deal on the bag of apples I purchased on Day Zero, the quality of the apples is not good. Since I have spent my $35, I cannot afford to go out and buy more so I am stuck with them.

Variety of food at night has been the biggest issue. I am very bored of eating the same food. I wish I had purchased a cheaper cereal to get at least seven breakfasts out it it because I have run out. 


Check back next Monday for a recap of the Food Depository staff members’ SNAP Challenge experience and ways you can advocate for stronger nutrition safety net programs.