Follow Food Depository advocates on the ground in Washington, D.C.

From February 28 - March 1, more than 30 advocates from the Greater Chicago Food Depository and partner agencies will be attending the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. After two days of conference sessions, the advocates will meet with federal lawmakers at Capitol Hill on Tuesday, March 1.

There are a number of ways to follow the advocates on their trip:

• Social media: Be sure to follow the Food Depository on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for short video updates, photos and insights from the conference.
• Live blog: Watch the live blog for updates from the various conference keynotes, including remarks by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Virginia First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe, Kathryn Edin, co-author of "$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America" and White House Adviser Cecilia Munoz.
• Meeting the Advocates Videos: Before the trip, we highlighted three advocates, asking what motivates them to lift their voices in Washington. Watch the videos and learn more.

To find out about the Food Depository's advocacy efforts and to get involved, visit chicagosfoodbank.org/advocacy.

1 City, 1 Food Drive collects more than 1.3 million meals

In November, Food Depository volunteers collected 17,544 lbs. of food in one morning at Union Station.

Hunger requires a community response. In order for us to make an impact, we must all work together toward a common goal. During the 2015 holidays, our generous neighbors provided that response.

In only November and December, the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s 1 City, 1 Food Drive campaign collected 475,000 pounds of food and $305,000 – the equivalent of more than 1.3 million meals for hungry individuals in our community.

This year’s campaign included 500 food drives, and Chicagoans didn’t miss an opportunity to donate. Commuters at Union, Millennium and Ogilvie stations donated thousands of pounds of shelf-stable food. This year’s top food drives were run by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Chicago, Chicago Bulls, City of Chicago and InterPark.

The top virtual food drives were organized by Morningstar, the ChiTech start-up community and SmithBucklin.

Big or small, corporate or individual, every food drive and every can of food donated during the holidays makes a difference as the Food Depository continues responding to an elevated level of need. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s 1 City, 1 Food Drive effort a success!

To learn more or start a food drive, visit chicagosfoodbank.org/fooddrive. 

Food Depository partners with rooftop greenhouse to raise awareness, fight hunger

Gotham Greens' leafy greens are sold at retailers throughout the Chicago area and are co-branded with the Food Depository's logo.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository has joined Gotham Greens – a global pioneer in the field of urban agriculture and leading regional produce company– to raise awareness of the fight against hunger in our community. The Brooklyn based company recently opened its 4^th greenhouse facility here in Chicago, marking the company’s first expansion outside of New York.

Gotham Greens’ premium quality produce is grown in the company’s 75,000 square foot rooftop greenhouse, located in the historic Pullman neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. The greenhouse is powered by 100% renewable energy, employs over 50 local workers and will produce nearly 10 million annual crops. This year-round, pesticide free produce is sold to local retailers and restaurants providing Chicagoans with premium quality, hyper-local produce that often hits store shelves and restaurant plates the very same day it’s been harvested, 365 days a year.

As part of the new partnership, all of Gotham Greens’ packaged salads have been co-branded with the Food Depository’s logo, helping raises awareness for hunger while highlighting the need for fresh produce for everyone in our community. Gotham Greens also regularly donates their fresh, locally-grown produce to the Food Depository, and has committed to donating at least 6,000 packages of product this year.

"An important part of the fight against hunger is raising awareness,” said Kate Maehr, Food Depository executive director and CEO. “Our partnership with Gotham Greens is an innovative way to do just that.”

“Gotham Greens is especially proud to contribute to the important work being done in areas of food security by valued partners like the Food Depository,” said Viraj Puri, Gotham Greens CEO.

Check out a story on Fox 32 featuring the new Gotham Greens facility and the company's partnership with the Food Depository.

AmeriCorps manager of VA food pantry attends State of the Union address

Loretta Coleman, left, and U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.

Service to others is woven into the fabric of Loretta Coleman’s life. She spent 10 years in the U.S. Armed Forces, including four years of active duty in the Air Force and six years in the Army Reserve. She’s currently an AmeriCorps member, managing the Greater Chicago Food Depository veterans pantry at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago.

“There’s always an opportunity to lend a helping hand, no matter how small,” she said. “It’s a part of who I am.”

In honor of her dedication to service, Loretta was invited by U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in January to attend the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C.

“I felt honored to be chosen,” she said. “From the moment I got off the plane, it was a whirlwind experience.”

Loretta was excited to be a part of President Obama’s final State of the Union, but was even more appreciative of what the President said about the importance of those serving our country.

“That’s part of what makes this nation great – that people are willing to give of themselves,” she said.

In addition to attending the address, Loretta took a tour of the White House and the Washington monuments.

She returned home with a reinforced conviction that helping others should be an important part of everyone’s lives. She also returned home with hope – that despite the continuing need among veterans in Cook County, there’s progress being made.

“I’d like to see a day when we don’t need food pantries for veterans, but the reality is that we do,” she said. “But I know how grateful they are, and how much we’re making a difference.”  

The veterans pantries at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital serve as many as 3,000 individuals per month.