Greater Chicago Food Depository

Food prices remain a challenge

2012-01-12T12:39:00.005-06:00

People ask us all the time: how are you faring in this economy? For the past few years, we've been able to say that we've fared well--because of the generosity of Chicagoans we have been able to distribute more food. This year, though, the answer is different. It's a challenge to keep up with demand.

Global food prices hit an all-time high in 2011. We see that impact every day, in three ways:

More individuals and families are turning to us because their grocery budgets are strained.
Sources of government food have declined as dollars just don't go as far as they once did.
It's more expensive for us to purchase food.

The number of people we serve remains as high as ever. It's just becoming more challenging to keep pantry shelves stocked. We've distributed nearly 4 million fewer pounds of "USDA" food this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provided much more last year when prices weren't as high. We can purchase more food, but that only goes so far. The cost of peanut butter alone has nearly doubled in one year.

The result is further pressure on everything we do. We were so fortunate to see a great response from Chicagoans this holiday season. But the need persists. You can get involved by organizing a food drive, volunteering, advocating or making a financial contribution. You can help us--and more important, hungry people--fare well.

Hybrid vehicle added to fleet

2012-01-11T12:53:00.003-06:00

The Food Depository's first-ever hybrid vehicle will hit the road tomorrow. As part of Goal 5 of our 2010-2015 Strategic Plan, we have emphasized implementing environmentally sustainable practices. The truck was donated by the Emilio and Silvio Troianello Trust and the Koropp family. It will be on the road Thursday, delivering meals to Kids Cafes.

South Side agency works to nourish the whole family

2012-01-05T14:57:00.000-06:00

Delorise Chambers shopsfor fresh pineapples at the monthly Greater Chicago Food Depository
MobilePantry distribution at K.L.E.O Community Family Life Center on Dec. 7.

South Side K.L.E.O Community Family Life Center opened its Kids Cafeprogram in 2008. In partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, thecommunity center provides hot meals and after-school programming to more than 70elementary school children each weekday.

“A lot of kids were trying to take food home,” said Torrey Barrett,executive director of K.L.E.O. “We figured out that they were taking it home[because] the parents weren’t eating. We reached out to the Food Depository toask if there was a way to start serving the parents of the children we areserving.”

The Food Depository suggested adding K.L.E.O. to its Mobile Pantryroute. In March 2010, the Mobile Pantry began delivering a truck load of freshfruit, vegetables and nonperishable food once a month. As word spread about thenew program, the distribution soon grew to serve nearly 200 people each month.Clients began asking Torrey and his staff for help with other obstacles theywere facing, besides food.

“We were having a couple hundredpeople come here every first Wednesday, but we didn’t have anything for them todo as we were preparing the food,” Torrey said. K.L.E.O. reached out toUniversity of Chicago for help. The university’s Diabetes Outcome ResearchProgram began attending distributions to offer health education, free bloodpressure readings and other resources to help those struggling with diabetes andother health concerns.

During a frigid December afternoon, dozens of volunteers work to preparetables of food for the afternoon’s distribution.

“I like what they’re doing out here,” said first-time volunteer RoseRice as she packs bags of sweet potatoes for clients coming through the line.“It’s just a good thing.”

Hurlon Jackson is visiting the Mobile Pantry after hearing about itlast month.

“I’m grateful for this,” Hurlon said. “[The Mobile Pantry] helpstremendously, especially in this area where they don’t have a lot of stores.The smaller neighborhood stores are more expensive and don’t have the freshproduce.”

For Delorise Chambers, the Mobile Pantry keeps her family from goinghungry.

“This is a blessing,” said Delorise. “If [the Mobile Pantry] wasn’tavailable we would just be short. Some days we wouldn’t eat because there’s no money.”

Although Delorise retired in 1994, her two daughters try to help withbills and house payments, but lately it is just not enough. The family hasfallen behind on their housing costs as both daughters struggle to findemployment.

Green McClelellan also is dealing with unemployment. After 15 years ata global mailing company, Green lost his job three months ago during a staffreconfiguration.

“This is my first time here,” said Green. “There’s no food at my houseright now. We’re doing the best we can.”

Support the Food Depository’s restaurant partners this holiday season

2011-12-22T16:07:00.000-06:00

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is thankful for our dedicated restaurant partners. Through food drives, fundraising promotions or participation in the Food Depository’s annual 86 Hunger Dinner Series, these restaurants have shown their dedication to the Food Depository’s mission of ending hunger in our community.

Whether you are celebrating this holiday season with friends or family, consider dining at these restaurants that have given back to our community and helped the Food Depository put nutritious food on the tables of hungry men, women and children across Cook County.

Thank you to:

Boka
Bonsoirée
Brunch
Custom House Tavern
GT Fish & Oyster
NAHA
Primehouse
The Publican
Ruxbin
Spiaggia
West Town Tavern
Wisma

Sen. Durbin visits Food Depository to discuss need, proposed cuts

2011-12-21T16:36:00.000-06:00

This morning, Sen. Durbin took time out of his busy schedule to join Greater Chicago Food Depository staff for a round-table discussion about the need in Cook County and the significant effects of proposed cuts to key safety net programs in 2012.

Sen. Durbin, a longtime supporter of the food bank, shared his perspective on Congress's proposed cuts to critical programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP, also known as USDA commodities).

"We need to cut spending," Sen. Durbin said. "But let's be careful. We need to have good sense about good cuts and bad cuts and cutting SNAP and TEFAP is not good for America."

Check out some photos from Sen. Durbin's visit, and log on to the Food Depository's Advocacy Center to learn more about key policy issues affecting hunger relief.

Kate Maehr testifies before City Council

2011-12-19T15:45:00.000-06:00

The Food Depository's executive director and CEO, Kate Maehr, testified before a Joint Committee of City Council today. The hearing was held to discuss a resolution on food insecurity in Chicago introduced by Ald. Ameya Pawar. Below is the complete text of Kate's testimony:

Joint Committee Meeting of Chicago City Council

December 19, 2011

Committee on Health & Environmental Protection (Chairman George Cardenas)
Committee Economic, Capital & Technology Development (Chairman Tom Tunney)
Resolution introduced by Ald. Ameya Pawar

Testimony by Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO, Greater Chicago Food Depository

Thank you to Alderman Pawar, Alderman Burke, Alderman Cardenas, Alderman Tunney and all aldermen who are present for making this conversation possible. I’m Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank. The mission of the Food Depository is to provide food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food to a network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Cook County. Last year, the Food Depository distributed 69 million pounds of food. For 32 years, we have provided fresh, nutritious food to people in need in every neighborhood in Chicago.

I’d like to begin by sharing a story that is typical during these tough times. A few months ago, a single father of two, David, walked into a community center on the South Side. David didn’t know what to expect when he walked in; after all he only had heard about the Food Depository’s program at the center from a flyer. His work hours were recently cut, and he needed food to feed his two young children. Guided by a Food Depository outreach worker, David soon learned of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program), and that he might be eligible for help. He also learned that there was a fresh source of free, wholesome food close to home, at a nearby Mobile Pantry stop. For David, the safety net worked beautifully.

This story illustrates how our web of supports can ensure that those who are hungry can have the food they need for them and their family. Unfortunately, the need right now is as high as it has ever been, and the safety net is not able to adequately meet that need.

The United States Department of Agriculture uses the term food insecurity to describe the lack of access to nutritious food in communities across the country. According to the USDA, people experiencing low food security report reduced quality, variety or desirability of diet. People experiencing very low food security, according to the USDA, report multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.

Earlier this year, the Food Depository worked with University of Illinois researcher Craig Gundersen and Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks, to study food insecurity in each of Chicago’s 77 community areas. In September, we released data that shows that every community area in our city has individuals and families that are impacted. Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Austin, Ravenswood, South Shore, Norwood Park – all of these communities have need.

According to our analysis, one in five individuals in Chicago is experiencing food insecurity, meaning they are uncertain where their next meal may come from. This number translates into more than 580,000 residents of our city being vulnerable.

We are very pleased that the City of Chicago has recognized the importance of working towards ending hunger in both words and action, whether it is the City’s partnership on this year’s One City, One Food Drive, its regular support for emergency food provisions through the Department of Family and Support Services, the inclusion of access to affordable, healthy food in the Healthy Chicago plan, the establishment of Universal Breakfast in the Classroom in elementary schools or the focus on communities that currently have limited retail access to fresh foods.

We know that aldermen, including many of you in this room, are addressing hunger in your communities by holding food drives, working with community partners and volunteering to ensure that food is distributed to those in need. All of these efforts complement the Food Depository’s work to improve public health, and, ultimately, end hunger--distributing healthy foods to those who can least afford it, and working on fundamental solutions that help ensure no one is hungry in the first place.

We’re so pleased that food deserts have been a topic of conversation in Chicago in recent months. Food deserts are complex problems. The barriers to quality food are not only geographical, but also related to unemployment, low incomes and the expense of acquiring healthy food items. At the Food Depository, we’ve strengthened our commitment to distributing fruit and vegetables so that everyone in our community has access to fresh, healthy food, last year distributing more than 18 million pounds of fresh produce.

For example, in Austin, we distributed 552,000 pounds of produce as one response to the compounded effects of geography and limited income. In North Lawndale, we distributed 685,000 pounds of produce, in East Garfield Park, 522,000 pounds and in Englewood, 506,000 pounds.

Unfortunately, our task has been getting harder. While the number of individuals visiting food pantries has risen dramatically – more than 57 percent in the last three years – the food we need to feed those in need has only gotten more scarce. The latest U.S. Conference of Mayors report on Hunger and Homelessness, released last week, shows that not only Chicago but cities across the nation are struggling with these issues.

Global food prices are near an all-time high. With rising food prices, we have seen three compounding effects. First, a family’s budget is not stretching as far as it once did – whether that budget relies on earned income, SNAP, or , for a growing number of families, both. These factors require more people to visit a pantry. Second, federal commodities that we receive through The Emergency Food Assistance Program( or TEFAP) have diminished as prices have risen. Consequently, while federal funding level s for TEFAP have not gone down, we are receiving 40 to 50 percent less food from this program this year. Third, the dollars the Food Depository uses to purchase food do not stretch as far either, making it more difficult to fill the gap.

There are specific things that can be done by and in conjunction with the City Council and the city as a whole to address this problem:

Increase SNAP Outreach – SNAPprovides real resources that allow struggling families to buy food. The Food Depository has a team of staff that works every day to enroll households in the program. As the city works with retailers to open new stores in food deserts, a complementary SNAP Outreach effort should be put in place to ensure that the families that use the new store have the financial resources to do so.
Increase Food Rescue – When a food retailer has excess product that cannot be sold to the public, but is still useable, it should go to those in need. A number of Chicago’s food retailers already engage in food rescue efforts either with the Food Depository or directly with food pantries, but not all. Efforts should be made to bring others online to increase the food available through this resource.

Actively and vocally stand up for federal food programs – SNAP and other critical food and nutrition programs are regularly threatened by some members of Congress. ,The Farm Bill sets policy and funding for many of these programs, and it will be reauthorized in 2012. That process, unfortunately, can provide an opportunity for those that want to undermine the food and nutrition safety net. The City of Chicago should use its voice through the reauthorization process, and at other critical moments, to speak to the importance of these programs to the residents of our city and the need to protect and enhance them.

Leverage urban agriculture – As we expand opportunities for urban agriculture in Chicago, the city and other stakeholders should make a concerted effort to ensure that a portion of local produce is distributed to people who cannot afford to buy it.

By working on these specific action items, in conjunction with the myriad of existing efforts at both the community and city-wide level, we will end hunger in Chicago.

Thank you.

Submitted by

Kate Maehr

Report shows SNAP provides lifeline for families and support for the economy

2011-12-15T10:34:00.002-06:00

Karen lost her job more than a year ago. As she traveled across the Southwest Suburbs looking for work, she was devastated to hear from her husband Rob that he had also lost his job at a warehouse. Already struggling to make ends meet in the face of rising food and fuel costs, the family was unsure where their next meal would come from. Fortunately, Karen applied for, and began to receive benefits through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps. SNAP has helped her family stretch their limited budget to pay for bills while putting food on the table.

A new report from the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) emphasizes the importance of SNAP in the lives of unemployed Americans like Karen and Rob. The report Lifeline for Families, Support for the Economy: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, notes that SNAP provides an 18 percent boost to income for those families with an individual who was been unemployed for more than six months, and is one of the few sources of aid for those unemployed individuals who have exhausted their unemployment benefits.

The report also explains how SNAP provides a boost to the economy by supporting consumer spending and saving jobs. “As cash-strapped recipients quickly spend benefits, the impact is felt by grocers, truck drivers, food production workers, and farmers…SNAP allows retailers and others to retain employees who might otherwise have been let go.” According to USDA estimates, $1 in SNAP benefits increases GDP by $1.79, and $1 billion in SNAP benefits generate as many as 17,900 full-time jobs. Read the full report to learn more about the link between unemployment and SNAP participation and the spillover benefits for the economy as a whole.

With one in six Americans struggling to put food on the table, SNAP is more important than ever, yet funding and access to the program are at risk. As Congress works to reduce the federal deficit and the Farm Bill comes up for reauthorization next year, it is important to keep SNAP strong. Please join the Greater Chicago Food Depository in urging Members of Congress to oppose any cuts or structural changes to SNAP and other anti-hunger programs in the budget and the Farm Bill. Visit the Food Depository’s Advocacy Center for more information on how you can take action in support of SNAP.

The Food Depository and its partners help make the holidays merry

2011-12-05T11:36:00.001-06:00

The holiday season is a time to be thankful and to celebrate friends and family. For too many Chicagoans, the stress of not being able to afford food for their families threatens to overshadow this joyous time of year.

In Uptown, Maggie knows everyone, and everyone knows Maggie. Around the neighborhood, Maggie greets old friends—some of whom she’s known since she was a child—and reminisces about the old days.

Maggie has fallen on hard times and turns to Cornerstone Community Outreach, a member agency of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. During the agency’s weekly food distribution Maggie is able to get the nutritious food she needs but cannot afford.

The day before Thanksgiving, Cornerstone Community Outreach held a special distribution and Maggie received a Thanksgiving turkey and trimmings.

“This is my first turkey—I’m real nervous,” Maggie said. “I don’t want to mess it up. I’ve never really had to cook [one] before, but I’m excited to go home and see what I can do.”

Throughout Cook County the Food Depository’s 650 member food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters helped to put a festive Thanksgiving meal on the tables of men, women and children in our community.

For Maggie, every day is Thanksgiving. She may face personal obstacles, but she also is grateful for the kindness she receives.

“I just feel so blessed and I know something good is going to happen.”

To help the Food Depository and its network provide healthy food to Chicagoans during the holidays and year-round, please give what you can. Whether a dollar, a can of food, or an hour of volunteer time—because of you, someone will eat today. Learn more at chicagosfoodbank.org.

Update on Deficit Reduction and the Food and Nutrition Safety Net

2011-11-23T09:54:00.000-06:00

Did the Super Committee process really fail?

As you may have heard, the Super Committee has failed to put forth a comprehensive deficit reduction plan. Under the terms of the Budget Control Act, this means that automatic sequestration, or cuts in government spending, will go into effect in January 2013.

What does this mean for the food and nutrition safety net?

The automatic cuts, which would total $1.2 trillion over 10 years, would affect defense and non-defense programs equally. Many low-income programs, including child nutrition, SNAP and TEFAP commodities, would be protected from these cuts. However, WIC is not exempt from automatic sequester.

What happens next?

We can expect heated debate in 2012 over whether to attempt another comprehensive deficit reduction effort before the sequester goes into effect in January 2013, and attempts to amend the terms of the sequester. Given that 2012 is an election year, this debate can be expected to dominate both the presidential and congressional campaigns. We also expect the Farm Bill to be debated during the 2012 calendar year.

What You Can Do:

The need for sustained advocacy continues. The need to show constituent support for nutrition assistance programs does not end with the Super Committee’s failure. We must continue to educate members of Congress about the need for and value of nutrition-assistance programs. Keep up your efforts to meet with Members of Congress, make phone calls and send letters, and reach out to your local media. Take advantage of every opportunity to reinforce our key advocacy message: “No cuts to SNAP, TEFAP and other nutrition safety net programs in this time of growing need.”

Learn more about these programs at chicagosfoodbank.org/advocate

Jewel-Osco donation arrives at critical time

2011-11-21T15:07:00.003-06:00

We are fortunate to report that holiday gifts already are streaming into the Food Depository. But one in particular stands out. Last week, we received a gift of $157,137 from Jewel-Osco for our Hunger Action Month partnership in September. We are so grateful for Jewel's support, especially as we face a daunting holiday season. Thank you, Jewel, for all that you do--including more than 6 million pounds of donated food last year alone. (From left, Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Sheila Creghin of Jewel-Osco.)

Help us stop massive cuts to anti-hunger funding

2011-11-15T11:40:00.001-06:00

When Sheila Enright bought her childhood home from her parents in the early 1980s, she didn’t doubt that she could afford a home in the increasingly affluent Edgewater neighborhood. With a stable career as a corporate consultant, she could care for her aging parents and raise her son under one roof.

Thirty years later, Sheila’s life has changed drastically. A victim of the economic crisis, Sheila, now 58, lost her full-time career in 2007. Optimistic that the job market would turn around, Sheila worked on a contract basis sporadically until 2010, when the work dried up completely. Sheila now struggles with mounting mortgage payments and property taxes with no income–just to keep a roof over her family.

Sheila no longer has the resources to keep up with necessary home repairs and utilities, but she believes that her decision to buy her home has been her “saving grace.”

“If I hadn’t, I would be homeless,” Sheila said.

Sheila is actively looking for work, applying to openings and networking with contacts, but has not found a job yet.

“I kept hoping the economy would recover,” Sheila said. Nearly two years after losing her part-time work, Sheila is still waiting. “I will lose my house.”

To hold on to her home and help stretch her already burdened budget, Sheila now relies on the nearby Care for Real Food Pantry, a member agency of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, for groceries.

“I used to donate to the pantry,” Sheila said. When Sheila realized she needed to turn to the pantry for food, she was embarrassed. “It was terrifying,” Sheila said. “Why would I, who has always been a giver, ever need assistance?”

Despite the discomfort of asking for help, Care for Real has helped Sheila alleviate one of her worries as she struggles to keep her home for the sake of her son, now in his final semester of college.

“I need to maintain a house for my child,” Sheila said. “It is my job to keep a roof over his head.”

Congress is just days away from announcing a plan to cut the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion, and there’s a very real danger that they will cut vital aid programs that Sheila and millions of Americans rely on to make ends meet.Tomorrow, organizations across the nation are joining in a massive effort to send a clear message: Do not cut the deficit by cutting hungry people out of the picture. Members of Congress will finalize their deficit plan in days, so there is absolutely no time to waste.

Contact your legislators now–even a quick message makes a huge difference:Call 1-877-698-8228 to contact Senators Durbin and Kirk, as well as your Representative, and tell them not to slash funding for anti-hunger programs, or visit the Food Depository’s Advocacy Center to send an Action Alert, chicagosfoodbank.org/advocate.

Take action to protect SNAP

2011-10-19T16:01:00.000-05:00

The Senate is debating its version of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill right now. Several harmful amendments are being considered that would cut future SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) benefits. SNAP is a vital source of nutritious food for many of the individuals and families we serve in Cook County. Making changes to SNAP at this accelerated pace in the Agriculture Appropriations Bill would hurt thousands of Illinoisans, increase administrative burdens and take control away from states. We urge you to call your Senators and ask them to oppose any amendments that would cut SNAP or any of the nutrition assistance programs in this bill. Help us keep the pressure on Congress and tell them that cutting anti-hunger programs is unacceptable!

The Senate may be voting on these amendments any minute, so call Senators Durbin and Kirk NOW and deliver this message:

“Hi, my name is ________ and I am from (city, state). I am calling you today to urge you to vote for passage of the Senate’s FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill and oppose any amendments that may harm SNAP or any other anti-hunger program."

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin
Tel: (202) 224-2152

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk
Tel: (202) 224-2854

About SNAP
SNAP is the cornerstone of the nutrition safety net, providing over 46 million low-income participants with monthly benefits via a grocery debit card. SNAP has proven to be one of the most responsive, efficient safety net programs. The program expands quickly to meet rising need, as demonstrated in the recent recession, and provides an efficient benefit transfer that results in $1.79 in local economic activity for each additional $1 in benefits expended. 76% of SNAP households contain a child, senior, or disabled member, and 84% of all benefits go to these households. With one in six Americans struggling to put food on the table, nutrition assistance programs are more important than ever.

Squash travels from field to the Food Depository

2011-10-17T08:48:00.003-05:00

More than 20 volunteers came together this Saturday to harvest five acres of butternut and acorn squash in McHenry County. The effort is one of the creative ways the Greater Chicago Food Depository is accessing food as rising costs have led to reduced supply. Thanks to a farmer who is donating the crops, the Food Depository has been able to harvest tons of sweet corn and squash this fall. We collected more than 32,000 pounds on Saturday alone. In coming days, volunteers will bag and sort the squash and distribute it to pantries, soup kitchens and shelters across Cook County.

UPDATE: Here are more photos from Saturday:

Have you told your Member of Congress that you support ending hunger?

2011-10-12T16:03:00.000-05:00

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is working to end hunger in our community. This work requires all of us to let decision-makers know that we want them to stand up for those who need food. Join people across the country in speaking up for vital anti-hunger programs for low-income individuals and families.

Right now Members of Congress are focused on the deficit reduction agreement and a potential full Senate vote on the FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. That’s why this is a key moment to raise your voice and influence the course of events that will affect hundreds of thousands of Americans who rely on federal nutrition programs to feed themselves and their families. (For more information on what’s at stake in these proposals, visit the Food Depository’s Advocacy Center at chicagosfoodbank.org/advocate.)

Make a difference TODAY by calling U.S. Senators Kirk and Durbin to deliver this important message:

“Hi, my name is ________ and I am from (city, Illinois). I urge you to protect federal nutrition programs in the deficit reduction plan and to vote YES on the FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill when it comes to the Senate floor. Please reject proposals that would strip funding from these valuable programs that are critical to reducing hunger in our state.”

In the coming weeks, there will be additional opportunities to take action. The Food Depository will keep you informed of the latest development. Together, we can help keep anti-hunger programs strong at every possible opportunity.

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk

Tel: (202) 224-2854

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin

Tel: (202) 224-2152

Bank of America helps the Food Depository fight child hunger

2011-09-27T08:23:00.001-05:00

Bank of America presented the Greater Chicago Food Depository with $100,000 to help fund its efforts to fight child hunger in Cook County. From left, Lauren Biedron, Food Depository; Julie Chavez, Bank of America; Jennifer Streder, Bank of America; Caroline Howe, Food Depository; and Kate Maehr, Food Depository.

Last week, Bank of America visited the Greater Chicago Food Depository to present a generous donation of $100,000 to help Food Depository children's programs end child hunger in Cook County.

As a lead corporate supporter of the Food Depository's Healthy Kids Markets and Kids Cafe and Nourish for Knowledge programs, Bank of America's generous gift will help the Food Depository provide thousands of nutritious meals to children across Cook County every day.

Children are disproportionately affected by hunger. Thirty-seven percent of the 678,000 individuals who turn to the Food Depository's network of pantries, soup kitchens and shelters each year are under the age of 18. Nine percent are under the age of five.

Learn more about the Food Depository's efforts to end child hunger here.

New data shows startling food insecurity rates for Cook County communities

2011-09-20T13:27:00.011-05:00

When the U.S. Census Bureau announced last week that the national poverty rate had reached its highest levels since 1993, no one seemed particularly shocked.

Among the least surprised: staff members at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and its partner agencies, who have witnessed, first-hand, the effects of deteriorating economy—and the subsequent increased demand for food assistance.

Now a new set of numbers underscores just how difficult times have become for families and individuals in the Chicago area. The Food Depository released a study today

Among the key findings in the study, released at the Third Annual Lillian and Larry Goodman Hunger Forum:

In the City of Chicago, the rate of food insecurity is 20.6%; in suburban Cook County, 15.4%; 845,910 individuals in Cook County are food insecure, uncertain where they will find their next meal;
Riverdale (40.8%), Washington Park (34.0%), Englewood and North Lawndale (both at 31.2%) had the highest rates of food insecurity in the City of Chicago, while Ford Heights (55.5%), Robbins (45.0%) and Dixmoor (38.7%) had the highest rate in the suburbs;
In Cook County, 36% of those who are food insecure – 304,528 individuals – earn more than 185% of the poverty level ($20,146 for a household of one) and are thus not eligible for most federal nutrition programs.

The scope of the demand is glaringly evident at Food Depository agencies -- the food pantries and food distribution centers across Cook County where families and individuals are able to secure desperately needed food -- and support.

Wendy Vasquez, Executive Director of Ravenswood Community Services, says traffic at their food pantry doubled between 2007 and 2009, during the height of the recession. Participation continued at 2009’s high levels – until recently. “We’ve seen an incredible spike this summer,” said Ms. Vasquez. “One night a few weeks ago, we hit a very unfortunate milestone when we provided groceries to more than 400 people or households.”

“The line of people waiting for our pantry and kitchen to open consistently wraps around the corner and down the block,” Ms. Vasquez said.

Lisa Haskin, of the Harvest Food Pantry in Evanston, has witnessed a similar trend. “The number of families we serve each month increased drastically – by about 50 percent – in July of 2009,”

“We’re definitely seeing more people struggling financially because of job loss,” said Ms. Haskin. Widespread job losses were responsible for the initial bump in demand at local pantries, and a dearth of new jobs has kept food agencies busy in succeeding years.

Mary Nash runs the food pantry at Grace Missionary Baptist Church in Markham. “People are feeling very pessimistic,” she said. “Within the last three months, 12 or 15 people I’ve talked to have lost their jobs. And they just can’t find work.”

Ms. Vasquez, Ms. Nash and Ms. Haskin report that while their traditional clients – older people on fixed incomes – continue to rely heavily on pantries for food, a new population, made up of families and young adults, has joined them. This demographic shift, an unwanted souvenir from the ongoing recession, underscores a difficult truth: Food insecurity has become a difficult fact of life for many families in Cook County.

That daily struggle, said Ms. Vasquez, takes its toll. “It feels like most people are becoming less optimistic,” she said. “Those who’ve lost their jobs and have gone without work for a long time are losing hope. There are anecdotal stories of good ‘new job’ news, but those seem to be limited.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Nash said she counsels clients to “keep the faith,” even in these economically bleak times. “I try to uplift their spirits,” she said. “But I know that doesn’t pay the bills.”

By Jessica Reaves

September is Hunger Action Month – Get Involved!

2011-09-06T14:34:00.008-05:00

September has been proclaimed Hunger Action Month in Illinois by Gov. Pat Quinn. Throughout the month, Feeding America’s nationwide network of food banks, including the Greater Chicago Food Depository, is working to engage citizens and agencies to take action and help spread the word about how pervasive hunger is in every community.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is part of this national movement to raise awareness and take action to help the 50 million Americans who experience hunger, and we want you to join the fight!

What is Hunger Action Month?
Hunger Action Month is when the Food Depository asks everyone in Cook County to take action to fight hunger in their community, all month long. Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to join a movement that has a real and lasting impact on our effort to feed more Americans than ever before. Whether it’s by advocating and raising awareness, making donations, or volunteering, individuals can find the way that’s right for them to make a difference during Hunger Action Month. Throughout the campaign, the Food Depository is calling upon communities to take action.

Why is Hunger Action Month important to me?
Hunger Action Month gives you the opportunity to get more involved in the fight against hunger! In Cook County, 16.1 percent, or 845,910 people, are food insecure. Of the food insecure population, 53% are not eligible for most federal nutrition programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This means that charitable organizations, like pantries and soup kitchens, play a vital role in ensuring the well-being of the hungry in Cook County.

How can I help?
Taking a stand against hunger can mean raising your voice, raising awareness, and rallying for a change. There is something that everyone can do to feed the hungry this September. Here are some ideas:

aDownload the 30 Ways in 30 Days calendar and post it in your home or office.
aContact your local, state and federal officials about hunger
aHost a food drive to rally your office, community or workplace against hunger
aDonate funds towards the purchase of meals for those in need
aVolunteer at your local pantry, soup kitchen or shelter

Where can I get more information?
Visit hungeractionmonth.org or contact Dylan Uhlir at duhlir@gcfd.org or 773-843-7287 today!

A Taste of the Lunch Bus: The End

2011-09-02T08:57:00.000-05:00

The summer has rolled by with increasing speed this year; June slipped almost unnoticed into July, July scurried into August, and it is now September and children are preparing to go back to school, if they haven’t returned already. The days of dancing in fire hydrants, catching fireflies and chasing the ice cream truck are numbered, and so are my days aboard the Lunch Bus. Today is the final day of the Lunch Bus City Route. The South Suburban Route ended two weeks ago, and the desk my fellow intern used to occupy has sat empty for the past 10 days reminding me that soon my papers will be cleared off and my desk will await the new Lunch Bus intern next year.

I have definitely gotten my own taste of the hunger and nutrition problems in the city this summer. I remember children like Jerome Fears at Back of the Yards who told me all about the new McFlurry he tried, but asked what a plum was, and Bruce Thomas whose favorite restaurant is Burger King, but had never tried bell peppers before. As an intern, I often worried about the day to day: whether we had chocolate milk, how many meals I could give out at each site and if kids would enjoy the food that day. But as the summer comes to an end, I realize we did more than just hand out lunches; we gave mothers a chance to save some much needed money, and fed kids at least one nutritious meal per day.

Each site has a different reaction to the announcement that Friday will be the final day. The kids at the Wabash YMCA asked if I was going to bring cake. At Back of the Yards it came as no surprise, as they thought the last day would be a few weeks ago. And at Our Lady of Good Counsel, the Castaneda family with eight kids went back to school on Aug. 29, so they said their goodbyes last week and asked if I would be back next year.

It will, in fact, be a new intern as I am heading down to Washington DC to take grad school classes and work in Public Affairs for the Department of Transportation. And, although someone new will be handing out sandwiches and checking off meal counts next year, I will never forget my summer on the Lunch Bus.

Allison Lantero is the City Route Lunch Bus intern at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Lunch Bus returned in June, expanding its city and South Suburban routes to include a total of 15 sites across Cook County. Throughout the summer months the program will distribute approximately 15,000 meals reimbursed by the Illinois Board of Education. With the help of Food Depository interns and volunteers, the Lunch Bus visits sites in underserved neighborhoods to deliver healthy food directly to children. The Food Depository identified priority areas for the Lunch Bus based on the Running on Empty study of child hunger, released in 2010.

A Taste of the Lunch Bus: Little Helpers

2011-08-26T09:37:00.000-05:00

Last week, the Lunch Bus served 112 kids at the Miami Park site alone. So far, that is the record number served at any site on the City Suburban route—and is a milestone for the program. Some sites such as the Salvation Army in Little Village, has quadrupled in size since June, with more than 60 children served every day. With numbers this high, it can be difficult for me to enforce the rule that children must eat on site and keep the area clean, while also handing out lunches.

Recently, I haven’t had to worry about enforcing these rules alone. The children who visit the Lunch Bus regularly are incredibly willing to help. In fact, the minute we drive up to St. Pancratius, a group of kids asks to help unload the lunches. Whether they are naturally helpful, or just really hungry, their offers are much appreciated. Later, as I am packing up to leave and collecting garbage, my helpers will often spring into action again. This is especially noticeable at Miami Park, where Michelle and her sister Jasmine will jump up and climb under playground equipment to grab trash I hadn’t even seen. My helpers make my job much easier, but I am not the only one the kids assist.

At Back of the Yards, I noticed Rori would stop at Asia and Daeveon’s house before coming over to the park. Asia and “Dae Dae” are too young to cross the street by themselves, but Rori makes sure that the siblings get their lunches every day.

Many siblings help their younger brothers and sisters write their names if they are too young to use a pen. Christian is one such older brother at Miami Park. After he writes his and his siblings’ names, he often comes and sits in the grass by my table. When there is a long line, it’s difficult to hand out lunches and keep tabs on the exit. Suddenly, Christian will be at my side. “Their trying to leave,” he whispers, pointing to a group of kids sneaking out the exit. I explain they have to eat lunch at the park, and they turn back to the benches. When I asked him why he was helping me enforce the rules he said, as if it were obvious, “Because I want the Lunch Bus to keep coming for everybody.”

Allison Lantero is the City Route Lunch Bus intern at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Lunch Bus returned in June, expanding its city and South Suburban routes to include a total of 15 sites across Cook County. Throughout the summer months the program will distribute approximately 25,000 meals reimbursed by the Illinois Board of Education. With the help of Food Depository interns and volunteers, the Lunch Bus visits sites in underserved neighborhoods to deliver healthy food directly to children. The Food Depository identified priority areas for the Lunch Bus based on the Running on Empty study of child hunger, released in 2010.

Taste of the Lunch Bus: Wabash YMCA

2011-08-24T08:49:00.000-05:00

A traditional lunch begins at noon, and that is when the Lunch Bus rolls into the parking lot beside the Wabash YMCA near U.S. Cellular Field. We set up under a small tree in the middle of the lot, and wait for the children to come running down the street. They come from houses in the neighborhood, a summer school program down the street, and sometimes even the YMCA itself.

Today, some of our first customers were the Willis kids, 5-year-old Brandon and 8-year-old Carlyn, who always sprint down the sidewalk, regardless of whether or not they are late. Brandon usually brings his action figures, and, like many of the other kids, celebrates the days chocolate milk is on the menu. After visiting the Lunch Bus the first few days of summer, they soon invited their neighbors to join them.

Bruce Thomas, age 3, cannot write his name, so his sister Anaya comes to the front of the line to help, then returns to her spot. Bruce takes his lunch at sits behind me, and every once in a while I will get a tug on my shirt. Looking up at me with his big brown eyes, Bruce asks, “Can you do this for me?” and offers me a bag of animal crackers or a package of strawberries. Young Reggenia, his sister, doesn’t know her last name, but does know she loves applesauce. She loves it so much that she dances around with the cup, and about half the container winds up on her shirt by the end of lunch.

A day-care program started stopping by the Lunch Bus with a mini-van full of kids ranging in age from 2 to 13. The oldest is Jake who is very selective in his food choices. Once he sees what the lunch is for the day, he conducts an auction of the things he doesn’t like, such as milk, to trade for what he does, like apples or Baked Doritos. “He’s going to be quite the businessman,” one of my volunteer drivers remarked.

Recently, the Thomas family returned from a trip to visit family. The minute they saw the Lunch Bus they rushed down the sidewalk to tell me they were back. Bruce then looked up at me and asked, “So what’s for lunch?”

Allison Lantero is the City Route Lunch Bus intern at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Lunch Bus returned in June, expanding its city and South Suburban routes to include a total of 15 sites across Cook County. Throughout the summer months the program will distribute approximately 25,000 meals reimbursed by the Illinois Board of Education. With the help of Food Depository interns and volunteers, the Lunch Bus visits sites in underserved neighborhoods to deliver healthy food directly to children. The Food Depository identified priority areas for the Lunch Bus based on the Running on Empty study of child hunger, released in 2010.

A Taste of the Lunch Bus: Miami Park

2011-08-19T08:36:00.000-05:00

At 2:10 p.m., Miami Park in Little Village is at its busiest: kids swinging or running around the playground, mothers sitting on benches, watching and chatting. However, they are all waiting for the arrival of the Greater Chicago Food Depository Lunch Bus. When we arrive, there is already a line formed with just enough space for me and my sign-in table at the front.

The ride to Miami Park is often interesting as the community has many practices I had never seen before. Households have yard sales all week long by hanging clothing on their picket fences and the streets are lined with umbrella-covered stands selling fruit and “chicharonnes.” A few weeks ago, when the weather was sweltering, we drove through fire hydrants spraying full blast. Almost all the children who came to the Lunch Bus were dripping.

Miami Park is one of our busiest sites with upwards of 65 kids served each day. In fact, on Tuesday August 16th, 112 children received lunches at this site. When I make the announcement that they must eat their meal at the park, I have to do it in both Spanish and English, as the majority of the population is Hispanic. The children all sign their own names, which is entertaining at times. “No, I can do it!” little ones often shout before a parent or sibling can write their name. The other children in line wait patiently as each makes his or her mark, and often ask me questions.

“What is the food today?”

“Como estás?”

“How many boxes do you have?”

“Como te llamas?”

This last question was posed by Andy, a 3-year-old who always seems to have just come from playing in a fire hydrant. At first I tell him my name is Allison, but he can’t seem to pronounce it. So I say instead that it is Alicia, and he grins widely. The next day as we round the corner all I hear is “Alicia! Hola Alicia!”

Allison Lantero is the City Route Lunch Bus intern at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Lunch Bus returned in June, expanding its city and South Suburban routes to include a total of 15 sites across Cook County. Throughout the summer months the program will distribute approximately 20,000 meals reimbursed by the Illinois Board of Education. With the help of Food Depository interns and volunteers, the Lunch Bus visits sites in underserved neighborhoods to deliver healthy food directly to children. The Food Depository identified priority areas for the Lunch Bus based on the Running on Empty study of child hunger, released in 2010.

Take Action to Protect Nutrition Programs!

2011-08-19T08:29:00.002-05:00

Congress passed the Budget Control Act on Aug. 2. This legislation has the potential to severely alter the budget and structure of federal nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and WIC.

This bill is designed to reduce the deficit in two stages:

Stage one: The first round of budget cuts, which will be effective as early as Oct. 1, will include more than $600 billion in cuts from non-defense discretionary spending. Effected programs may include WIC, CSFP, TEFAP and CACFP. SNAP funding is protected from cuts in this stage.

Stage two: The newly assembled “Super Congress,” which consists of three Democrats and three Republicans from each chamber, is charged with crafting deficit reduction legislation that achieves at least $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction over 10 years. During this stage all nutrition programs, including SNAP, TEFAP and CSFP, will be on the table for funding cuts.

It is crucial that nutrition programs remain a central issue in the deficit reduction negotiations. In order to protect these programs, we must ensure that Congress understands the vital role that each plays in the well-being of so many Americans. At a time when one in six people—including one in four children—are hungry in America, it is vital that nutrition programs are protected. We agree that balancing the budget is important, but we should do this by cutting programs and policies that aren’t efficient or essential, not those for which there is tremendous need and which have proven highly effective in time of increased demand.

For more information on the Budget Control Act and for an opportunity to take action, visit the Advocacy Center today!

A Taste of the Lunch Bus: Back of the Yards Park

2011-08-16T09:32:00.000-05:00

Under a viaduct on 49th Street and through a mural-painted tunnel, the Lunch Bus travels to the Back of the Yards Park each morning at 11:15 a.m. The area is almost always silent—there are no children in the park and empty swings sway in the breeze. It is the slowest stop on the route, but its growth during the course of the summer is what keeps me hopeful.

Nearby paintings and billboards should have tipped me off to why the park is deserted. One image of candles stands out with the message “Someone was killed here.” Another reads: “No guns, children playing.” Recently a city worker cleaning up the park told us about the multiple gangs on either side of the bridge. It was no wonder that when six-year-old Ganiyra first came to the Lunch Bus, her eyes widened when I told her she had to eat her meal in the park. “But my mom doesn’t like us coming here,” she explained. “This is the shooter park.”

The Lunch Bus has helped lift this stigma this summer. Asia sometimes stays with her grandmother across the street and will peek out the window when the Lunch Bus pulls up, calling to her brother Daeveon, while hurrying over to ask if we have chocolate milk today. Rori, who lives a few doors down, recently offered me a small lanyard keychain. “I made this for you,” she said with a grin.

The park is still empty when the Lunch Bus arrives, but by the time we leave for the next stop, there are children laughing on the benches, swapping juice for animal crackers and giving us a glimpse of the park’s true potential.

Allison Lantero is the City Route Lunch Bus intern at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Lunch Bus returned in June, expanding its city and South Suburban routes to include a total of 15 sites across Cook County. Throughout the summer months the program will distribute approximately 15,000 meals reimbursed by the Illinois Board of Education. With the help of Food Depository interns and volunteers, the Lunch Bus visits sites in underserved neighborhoods to deliver healthy food directly to children. The Food Depository identified priority areas for the Lunch Bus based on the Running on Empty study of child hunger, released in 2010.

A taste of the Lunch Bus: Our Lady of Good Counsel

2011-08-11T08:55:00.000-05:00

On a shady corner besides the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel in McKinley Park, the streets are quiet and lined with well-kept houses with the odd bicycle or scooter parked outside. It is here that the Lunch Bus stops at 12:45 p.m. each weekday to provide meals for the children in the area. At first it was the slowest stop, with just one little girl from across the street coming out each day. Gaby and I would have lunch together.

Two weeks in, word finally got out. One family with nine children began arriving each day in a large black van. The family would pile out and, after politely accepting their lunches, would sit together on the steps near the church to eat. Then a babysitter brought the two children she watches, Mia and Liam. Mia is two years old and learning both Spanish and English. “Manana!” she says as she rolls away in her stroller each afternoon. Ricardo and his sister Nubia also come often, always smiling and asking me how I am.

Lastly, the Napoleon family became Lunch Bus regulars. Each day Alyssa and her brothers, Jared and Jaden, sprint down the block when they see the Lunch Bus. On July 22, lunch included watermelon and celery. The Napoleons were excited for the fresh produce. “They love fruit,” their mother explained. “Once every two weeks the local grocery store has a 10 for $10 sale on fruit, and they keep track of when it is for me.” Alyssa smiled at me with her watermelon-juice lips, “Will there be more food like this next week?”

Allison Lantero is the City Route Lunch Bus intern at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Lunch Bus returned in June, expanding its city and South Suburban routes to include a total of 15 sites across Cook County. Throughout the summer months the program will distribute approximately 15,000 meals reimbursed by the Illinois Board of Education. With the help of Food Depository interns and volunteers, the Lunch Bus visits sites in underserved neighborhoods to deliver healthy food directly to children. The Food Depository identified priority areas for the Lunch Bus based on the Running on Empty study of child hunger, released in 2010.

A Taste of the Lunch Bus: Observations from A Lunch Bus Intern

2011-08-09T08:54:00.000-05:00

When working with kids, you never know what to expect. As a former waitress I have witnessed everything from temper tantrums over chocolate milk to children who seemed like miniature adults. When I was offered the position of Lunch Bus intern at the Greater Chicago Food Depository this summer, I had no idea what to expect. I had fed kids before, but not kids who may not have had breakfast; not kids who might not eat lunch at all without me.

Many children in the city go without regular meals when school is out for the summer. Maybe they are home alone all day and do not have food in the house. Maybe their parents are out of work and can only provide a meal or two per day. Whatever the reason, no child is at fault for his or her hunger. It was this that drew me to the Lunch Bus. Recently graduated from a university committed to a tradition of community service, I loved the idea of sharing my time and energy with these kids.

On my first day, the first four stops were very slow, some with no children at all. I was devastated and confused. Where were all the children? What was the point of spending my summer giving out meals when no one even showed up? I got my answer at the sixth stop. As we rounded the corner to Miami Park in Little Village, there they were. Droves of children were playing on the playground, but the moment they saw the Lunch Bus with the Food Depository logo, a cheer went up and a line immediately formed. The children were all smiles as they scribbled their names on the sign-in sheet. No one fought in line, and they were excited to try the new food. As we prepared to travel to our next stop, Ms. Dixon, the volunteer driver helping me that day, turned to me and said, “I told you they’d be there. They’ll all be like that pretty soon.”

Allison Lantero is the City Route Lunch Bus intern at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Lunch Bus returned in June, expanding its city and South Suburban routes to include a total of 15 sites across Cook County. Throughout the summer months the program will distribute approximately 15,000 meals reimbursed by the Illinois Board of Education. With the help of Food Depository interns and volunteers, the Lunch Bus visits sites in underserved neighborhoods to deliver healthy food directly to children. The Food Depository identified priority areas for the Lunch Bus based on the Running on Empty study of child hunger, released in 2010.

SNAP Matters to Public Health!

2011-08-02T16:14:00.004-05:00

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) is the nation's primary nutrition assistance program. Last year, the Greater Chicago Food Depository's SNAP Outreach Program staff assisted nearly 2,300 households with the completion and submission of their SNAP applications to the Department of Human Services during visits to food pantries and older adult sites.

Recently, Craig Gundersen, a University of Illinois economist, stressed that social safety net programs, like SNAP, that reduce psychological stressors for low-income families also ultimately lead to a reduction in childhood obesity. Gundersen says:

"If we cut back on benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or otherwise reduce its availability to people, that would increase the amount of stress that low-income families would face, which would then subsequently lead to increases in obesity."

Research shows that our work to connect individuals and families in Cook County with SNAP benefits not only reduces hunger, but also plays an integral role in improving public health. Click here to learn more about SNAP Outreach at the Food Depository.

Come rain, shine or snow, we have a mission to achieve

2011-07-28T16:40:00.002-05:00

That's part of the Food Depository staff you see setting up for a Producemobile distribution at True Vine in Dixmoor, IL. We distributed apples, lettuce, beans, carrots and bread, among other things.

Today was our quarterly Employee Day, which also doubled as our fiscal year-end celebration. Part of that is getting out into the community and volunteering. Sometimes, some of us are in the offices a lot, so this is an amazing opportunity to get our hands dirty (sometimes literally) and really experience what we do and interact with the people we serve every day.

What was special about this distribution--one of four the Food Depository staff participated in today throughout Chicago--was that it was raining. It wasn't some kind of magical rain or anything, but rather that we were out there, still providing food to those in need. Come rain, shine or snow, we have a mission and we're going to achieve it.

If there's one thing I took from today, it's the outstanding commitment of everyone here at the Food Depository.

UPDATE: Here are a few more photos from other locations.

Take Action During Debt Negotiations!

2011-07-15T14:17:00.008-05:00

As the deadline for increasing the nation’s debt ceiling grows closer, crucial negotiations between the President and Congressional leaders over short-term deficit reduction continue. The Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Executive Director and CEO, Kate Maehr, recently wrote a piece for the Huffington Post Chicago, where she highlighted those who are most at risk during the deficit battles:

"We understand the long-term importance of getting our nation's financial house in order. But, we urge Congress to take a measured approach in the budget battle and avoid slashing vital services that are essential to the stability and wellbeing of those most in need, especially children and the elderly. A downward spiral is a real worry. Cuts at the federal and state level will place enormous burdens on scores of critical human services organizations – and, this at a time when 1.8 million people and 850,000 households in Illinois are currently receiving SNAP benefits, the highest number ever."

We must tell Congress that any debt ceiling or deficit reduction plan must protect programs for low-income families and individuals–particularly key support programs like SNAP (formerly Food Stamps). The plan should reduce poverty and help disadvantaged people, even as it attempts to shrink the deficit. Low-income assistance programs must be exempt from any caps and automatic across-the-board cuts that could be triggered when budget targets or fiscal restraint targets are missed.

Use your voice and tell Congress to oppose harmful cuts or caps to nutrition programs. Visit our Advocacy Center and take action today!

Commission to End Hunger kicks off its statewide listening tour

2011-07-14T15:57:00.010-05:00

In 2010, the Commission to End Hunger was appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn with the mission of developing a two-year plan to end hunger in Illinois. The Commission is responsible for developing this action plan, reviewing its progress, and ensuring cross-collaboration among government entities and the community. Comprised of legislators and community leaders who are committed to this mission, the Commission is conducting a listening tour this summer and fall, to learn firsthand how hunger is affecting men, women and children across Illinois. The Commission is co-chaired by Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

The Illinois Commission to End Hunger began its statewide listening tour on July 10 in Rantoul, a farming community surrounded by the picturesque cornfields of central Illinois. The Commission’s goal: uncovering (and eventually correcting) the crises of food insecurity and hunger facing migrant and seasonal farm workers.

Each summer, waves of farm workers arrive in this once-thriving town, which has struggled to maintain a dwindling population after the local Air Force base closed in the mid-1990s. Today, Rantoul looks like so many other American towns: Its film set-ready central business district, lined with the shells of small, independent shops, is all but abandoned.

The migrant workers who arrive in Rantoul are hired by local farmers to de-tassel corn or handle other crops. They work long days in unforgiving weather conditions, and frequently wait weeks for their first paychecks, a lapse that makes it nearly impossible to feed their families.

Five of the 21 state-appointed commissioners were on hand Sunday to hear from members of the Illinois Migrant Council, an advocacy group started in 1966 to address the health, employment, housing and educational needs of the state’s estimated 30,000 seasonal farm workers. Eloy Salazar, the group’s executive director, spoke passionately about the need for increased funding for food programs and the workers’ daily struggles to survive.

“Most farm workers have to really stretch their pay and their food just to get to the next paycheck,” Salazar said. “They choose between fuel to get to work and food to feed their families. That’s the experience of many workers. And in the extreme cases, where there’s not enough work, and no pay, the children in these families will go hungry.” Long-term inadequate nutrition can lead to serious, long-term health problems, he said – which go untreated due to lack of care options, often derailing work during the crucial seasonal window.

The Commission will present its reports and updates on progress to the governor and General Assembly annually, beginning in March 2012. Be sure to check back in with the Food Depository blog as it chronicles the Commission's listening tour and for the dates and locations of the tour's Cook County stops.

Hunger Walk draws record crowd

2011-07-01T11:52:00.002-05:00

Saturday, June 25, was a beautiful day for a walk in the park. More than 9,400 people--an event record--joined the Greater Chicago Food Depository for the 26th Annual Hunger Walk at Soldier Field. The Hunger Walk is the Food Depository's largest event of the year and the largest anti-hunger rally in Chicago. Funds raised from the walk benefit the 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that are members of the Food Depository. Thank you to everyone who made the walk possible--from agencies to staff to volunteers. Your efforts will put food on the table for individuals and families in Cook County.

Safety net programs must be protected in the deficit reduction plan!

2011-06-29T10:01:00.000-05:00

Right now the White House and Congressional leaders, including Illinois’ own Sen. Dick Durbin, are negotiating a deficit reduction plan that would impact key federal programs for decades to come. They are hoping to reach an agreement by Friday, July 1.

Some of the proposals on the table would result in deep budget cuts to safety net programs, and would radically change the structure of important programs and even the budget process itself.

Your voice is needed to protect the vulnerable in this negotiations process!

Please contact President Obama, Vice President Biden and Sen. Durbin and ask them to protect programs for low-income families and individuals in the deficit reduction plan. We must ensure that deficit reduction is achieved in a way that does not increase poverty. Please visit the Food Depository’s Advocacy Center for more information and instructions on how to take action TODAY!

Why are you committed to ending hunger?

2011-06-24T15:15:00.007-05:00

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is launching the “I am rallying to end hunger because…” project at the 26th annual Hunger Walk tomorrow at Soldier Field. This annual 5K (3.1 miles) directly benefits the Food Depository's network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Cook County that help hundreds of thousands of people put food on their table. It's also an opportunity to take a stand in the fight against hunger.

We want to know what motivates you to join the fight against hunger. If you could send just one message about this issue to elected officials and other decision-makers in our state, what would it be? The “I am rallying to end hunger because…” project seeks to capture the many voices of anti-hunger advocates like you across Cook County.

Here are the details of the project and how you can get involved:

1. Attend the Hunger Walk on Saturday – registration is available the morning of the walk beginning at 7 a.m. Step off is at 8:15 a.m.

2. Watch for volunteers with the “I AM RALLYING TO END HUNGER BECAUSE…” sign.

3. Answer the question: Why are you rallying to end hunger?

4. On the back of your message, sign a letter that will be sent to your elected officials, urging them to protect key nutrition safety net programs in the budget and Farm Bill.

5. Say cheese! Get your picture taken while holding up your message.

6. Enjoy the walk!

Stay tuned to the Food Depository's Advocacy Center to see pictures and video from this year’s event. Let's send a strong message that ending hunger in our communities should be a top priority!

House votes to cut food for the hungry

2011-06-17T11:46:00.000-05:00

The House voted on Thursday to slash the amount of food the federal government provides for hungry people. The bill, which will be advanced to the Senate, would slice 20 percent from The Emergency Food Assistance Program next year. This is on top of a possible 50 percent cut this year. For Cook County, this would mean at least 3 million fewer pounds of food in the next year just as we witness record levels of demand at pantries—65 percent higher than three years ago. Most troubling is that the bill cuts funding for the Women, Infants and Children Program.

Still, there is hope. First, there is time to take action. The Senate likely will not vote on this bill for several weeks. Another silver lining is that seven of eight Cook County House members voted 'no' on these cuts--that is because of you. Thank you to everyone who responded to our advocacy alert this week. As we address this “new normal,” it will require more support from every sector of the community.

Knox College honors Kate Maehr

2011-06-17T08:34:00.004-05:00

Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, recently traveled to Galesburg, Ill., to accept an honorary degree from Knox College. The award is based upon the recommendation of the College's Honorary Degrees Committee, made up of trustees and faculty members, and honors Kate's civic leadership and efforts on behalf of hungry people. Congratulations, Kate! On behalf of the staff and volunteers of the Food Depository, thank you to Knox College for recognizing Kate's leadership and our work in providing food for hungry people in Cook County.

Breakfast in the Classroom nourishes the next generation

2011-06-09T11:13:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, the Chicago Tribune reported that Chicago Public Schools may change the structure of the mandatory Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) initiative enacted in January. The Greater Chicago Food Depository has long advocated for expansion of Breakfast in the Classroom. The research is undeniable: Breakfast in the Classroom results in more children receiving more breakfasts. For the 82 Chicago schools that implemented the program in March, breakfast participation increased from 26 percent to 62 percent. In a school district where more than 75 percent of students are low-income, the program has meant more food for hungry children.

At many schools, the program has been lauded by administrators and parents. On a recent visit to Shoesmith School in Kenwood, the Food Depository witnessed a cheerful staff preparing healthy breakfasts for delighted students. We watched as children sat at their desks and dug in to a morning meal of an omelet, banana, bran muffin and juice. These nourishing building blocks are critical for a school where 90 percent of students are low income; research shows that proper nutrition and academic performance are inextricably linked. Students participating in BIC better concentrate on classwork once those early-morning hunger pangs are quelled.

For the Food Depository, whose mission includes “striving to end hunger in our community,” BIC is a key step in helping to nourish the next generation and build a better future. Children represent 37 percent of the people we serve, or 250,000 children under the age of 18. We must ensure that they have the nutrition they need to succeed. The Food Depository remains strongly supportive of Breakfast in the Classroom.

Federal budget would take food off the family dinner table

2011-05-27T11:09:00.004-05:00

Many people don't realize what a huge role the federal government plays in hunger relief in the United States. While the days of government cheese are (mostly) over, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) alone provides about a quarter of all food distributed by food banks nationwide. So we're monitoring the budget debate closely on a daily basis.

Wednesday brought grim news. A House committee proposed to cut TEFAP by 20 percent. As Feeding America noted in a statement yesterday, such a cut would be disastrous for food banks, pantries and the people we serve. For the Food Depository, it would mean emptier shelves and fewer foodstuffs just as we face a record need in Cook County.

The Food Depository is reaching out to Cook County's Congressional delegation and Sen. Durbin and Sen. Kirk. You can help too--visit our Advocacy Center and in a few clicks send an email stating that programs like TEFAP must remain full funded in the federal budget.

The budget debate is just the start of what promises to be a vigorous conversation in Washington during the next two years. The Farm Bill, which authorizes most nutrition programs, is up for renewal in 2012. But we must begin to spread the word about the importance of federal nutrition programs now. The well-being of thousands of people in Cook County is at stake.

Getting Social with the Food Depository

2011-04-20T12:06:00.003-05:00

You know, this social media thing might catch on. So, the Food Depository has taken up residence in several of the most popular social networks.

After all, just having a Facebook page and Twitter profile aren't going to cut it anymore. You have to be engaged with your fans and provide them with relevant, useful information that is worth sharing with their own network. The Food Depository has a growing audience in both of these places (8,500 fans and 1,700 followers, respectively), but we cannot rest on our laurels and expect people to flock to us just because we exist in the social space. Competing for the attention of more than 500 million active Facebook users is a daunting task. The average user may have 130 friends, but getting them to share a link or even just like a photo is not always easy. (source: Facebook)

That's why we enlist partners to help spread the word about the Food Depository. We're only just scratching the surface, but already we've run a YouTube cooking demo campaign with Sears and LG, where each view of the video meant 50 cents to us.

Currently, we are in the midst of a "Like" campaign with Menuism, a social network for foodies where you can review restaurants and their dishes; it's also the web's largest aggregator of online restaurant menus. Their campaign is simple: just “like” Menuism on Facebook and they’ll donate $1 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. We're now at about $2,000 raised of a possible $5,000.

It’s these types of campaigns that not only share our mission of providing food for hungry people in Cook County, but also they help us raise funds to continue achieving that mission.

We still have the more traditional communication pathways (mail, e-mail, website), but when Facebook claims that more than 30 billion pieces of content (links, blogs, photos, etc.) are shared each month, it’s hard to ignore the power of social media and how it could help share our mission and raise awareness of hunger relief. Even if we are the slightest fraction of that monthly activity, then we—at least this little corner of the Food Depository—are doing our jobs.

Breakfast in the Classroom

2011-03-31T12:16:00.004-05:00

Fulfilling our hunger-relief mission stretches beyond our warehouse on the Southwest Side. One of the chief means for alleviating hunger is through federally funded nutrition programs. The Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the people we serve, must tap all of the resources available if we are to provide food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. Schools are a key part of the frontline against child hunger. That's why we applaud Chicago Public Schools and the Board of Education for enacting Breakfast in the Classroom for all Chicago elementary schools in January.

Children represent 37 percent of the people served annually by the Food Depository, or 250,000 children under the age of 18. Research shows that proper nutrition and academic performance are inextricably linked. In a recent study conducted by the Food Depository, 45 percent of children missed a main meal in their last 24 hours.

Illinois' school breakfast participation rate is 46th in the nation, according to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). Chicago is ranked 22nd (out of 29 urban school districts) in school breakfast participation; Chicago ranked dead last in school breakfast participation until CPS offered Breakfast in the Classroom. FRAC statistics show that CPS served breakfast to an additional 32,000 low-income students per day as it increased the number of schools participating in Breakfast in the Classroom to 182 in the 2009-2010 school year. Further, in this time of fiscal uncertainty at the city and state level, school breakfast costs are reimbursed by the federal government.

Thank you to CPS for helping children have the fuel they need to learn.

Goya gives

2011-03-18T07:55:00.003-05:00

Food donations are the foundation of food banking. But the Greater Chicago Food Depository's recent history shows that food donations are becoming a smaller percentage of our sourcing. In 2006-2007, 62 percent of our food receipts came from food donations. By 2009-2010, 52 percent came from food donations. Food distributors, manufacturers and wholesalers are simply becoming more efficient in a challenging market.

So far the decreases have been off-set by food from the federal government, but federal food may not be as steady a source for much longer. That's why Goya Foods' donation of 75,000 pounds of food on Wednesday was so important. Because of Goya, the Food Depository received two truckloads laden with long grain rice, pink beans, red beans, chick peas, black beans and pinto beans--all high-quality, nutritious, low-sodium products. In coming days and weeks, the food will be distributed to our network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters and provided to people in need across Cook County.

Thank you to Goya Foods for its generous donation in honor of its 75th anniversary--donations that totaled 1 million pounds nationwide on Wednesday. And thank you to United Way of Metropolitan Chicago for helping to make it happen. Food donations are an outstanding anniversary gift for Cook County's hunger-relief programs. Photo by Charlie Westerman.

Lobbying for hunger relief in Illinois: Day Two at the Feeding Illinois Conference and Lobby Day in Springfield

2011-03-08T11:02:00.001-06:00

Everyone was up bright and early the next morning, excited to meet with legislators and tell the stories of their communities. Participants met in smaller, two- to five-person groups by the legislative district in which their program is located. Groups reviewed their meeting schedule and talking points over breakfast.

In light of the budget crisis in Illinois, lobbyists aimed to raise awareness about legislation that would benefit Illinois’ hungry families without any added financial burden to the state, such as inviting legislators to join the Anti-Hunger Caucus and support a bill that would help divert more eggs—a nutrient rich, but rarely donated, item—to Illinois food banks.

I asked Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, a member of the Food Depository, if I could tag along with their group for their first meeting of the day with their representative, Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).

As I sat down with the group, pantry executive director Kathy Russell continued down the list of meetings planned for the day. Kathy and her team had done their homework on each and knew what West Side neighborhoods they represented and how many clients the pantry served from each area. When asked if they had any specific stories from their pantry to share with legislators who had not seen the pantry in action, Michele Zurakowski nodded.

“We stayed open the night of the blizzard,” said Michele, director of operations at the pantry. “We served 15 families that night, including a working mother of five. She was stressed out that schools would be closed for the next two days and her children wouldn’t be able to get school lunches so she had to come up with enough food for 30 meals. It was one of those times where you realize this is why we are here.”

“If people are coming to pantry in a blizzard, they really need the help,” Kathy added.

Lobbying for hunger relief in Illinois: Day One at the Feeding Illinois Conference and Lobby Day in Springfield

2011-03-08T10:59:00.002-06:00

Last week, more than 60 Greater Chicago Food Depository staff, volunteers and member agency representatives traveled to Springfield for the two-day Second Annual Feeding Illinois Anti-Hunger Conference and Lobby Day. We were joined by hunger-relief supporters from all eight Feeding Illinois member food banks, as well as other food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters from across Illinois. Our charge was to learn more about legislative issues affecting hunger relief and raise awareness about the thousands of men, woman and children that struggle with hunger every day in our state.

To kick things off, participants gathered at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Hotel and Conference Center for a panel discussion covering the ongoing efforts of federal, state, private and community organizations to fight hunger, and what to expect during meetings with legislators the following day. Panelists included: Sarah Coffer, vice president of United Way of McLean County; Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park); Grace Hou, assistant secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services; Andy Kulczycki, director of Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County; Tracy Smith, state director of Feeding Illinois; and Jason Wetzel, director of public affairs and government relations of Walmart. The keynote was given by Jerry Stermer of the office of the governor and provided background on the state budget deficit and the financial challenges facing the state.

Below are just a few snippets from the panel discussion:

“Our staff was struck by how many clients mentioned how many phone calls, how many contacts they had to go through to get someone to answer their questions [in regards to SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program],” Andy Kulczycki, director of the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County.

“Everyone is absolutely necessary to ending hunger. Community and state agencies can’t do it alone, legislators can’t do it alone, philanthropies can’t do it alone. But we can do it together. The question is whether or not we will,”Grace Hou, assistant secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

“There is an ongoing debate on what the overall size and scope of government should be. But if government is not instrumental in ensuring that no one goes to bed hungry, we’re doing it wrong,” Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).

At the conclusion of the panel, participants chose break-out sessions to attend, each focusing on a specific topic. I stopped by the “Spotlight on Agencies,” led by Bob Koenegstein, director of the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry, a member of the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Bob shared a new initiative of his pantry, a monthly mobile “food fair.” The group, which included several other food pantries and food banks, discussed best practices of their mobile programs and there was a lively discussion on the logistics of allowing clients to choose their own items and bypass food they may not use or need. Several pantries shared that having a choice gave clients dignity and eliminated waste with everyone only taking the food they needed.

Next I joined a session covering SNAP and how agencies can connect their clients with these federal benefits. Pastor Sandra Gillespie of Food Depository member agency Chosen Tabernacle Food Pantry spoke about her experience with the Food Depository SNAP Outreach team that visits the pantry once a month to assist clients with the 11-page application form and to answer questions about the application process.

Pastor Gillespie explained that she decided to learn more about SNAP as a way to help her clients regain a sense of dignity. “[SNAP] is an opportunity [for the client] to do some things on their own. It allows them to go to the store and get what they need,” she said. “It’s about making a difference in the lives of our clients.”

To cap off the day, participants were welcomed to the governor’s mansion to recognize three hunger-relief advocates: the 2011 Legislator of the Year Sen. Harmon; Brenda Hanbury, retiring chief of the Bureau of Homeless Services and Supportive Housing, Illinois Department of Human Services; and Dennis Smith, retiring president and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank. Watch their acceptance speeches below.

Weathering the Blizzard of 2011

2011-02-07T16:20:00.004-06:00

Many people have asked how the Greater Chicago Food Depository fared during last week's blizzard. The Food Depository was completely closed on Wednesday and closed for shipping on Thursday, though a few hearty staff did make it in that day. Pantries, soup kitchens and shelters were already stocked with orders from the previous week--food shipments generally take place well in advance. On Friday, we shipped 189,000 pounds of food as agencies rescheduled pickups from previous days, and we held volunteer sessions as planned. Above is a photo of our shipping yard on Wednesday morning. Below is a photo of our new snow-fighting vehicle, acquired just this year--and just in time for the Blizzard of 2011.

Child’s choice leaves indelible memory

2011-01-10T11:23:00.005-06:00

Last week, I was at the Food Depository’s Healthy Kids Market at Burke Elementary School in the Washington Park neighborhood. Healthy Kids Markets distribute fresh produce and other food items to low-income families after school. I watched as a girl went through the line with on older woman, presumably her grandmother.

Maybe it was the bright purple knit stocking cap. Or the backpack that was so big it threatened to topple her backwards. Or maybe it was her scuffed boots, too big I think, that had red ladybugs all over them. Whatever it was that caught my eye, the image of the young girl with her grandmother has stayed with me. I watched as the girl made her way through the selection at the Healthy Kids Market. I watched as she tried to choose from tomatoes, potatoes, rice and oranges. And I continued to watch as she deliberately and thoughtfully settled on the oranges, and then slowly, carefully placed seven oranges into her nylon bag.

When she was done, she took her grandmother's hand, carefully cradling the oranges on her other side, walked out of the makeshift market into the school hallway and through the doors and out into the January cold. It was a snapshot of what takes place all over Chicago nearly every day of the year. By offering healthy choices, we provide nourishment—and hope.

Read more about our children's programs here.

Helping us tackle hunger

2011-01-07T13:41:00.003-06:00

Let's face it: there are a lot more college football bowl games than there used to be. But one bowl game in particular really deserves our attention this year: the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, taking place Sunday night in San Francisco. Kraft and Feeding America are drawing attention to hunger-relief programs by sponsoring this year's game. Jim Nelson, right, of Kraft Foods and Mike O'Neill of Central Grocers stopped by the Greater Chicago Food Depository today to present a contribution as part of the bowl game and the Huddle to Fight Hunger Program. Both Kraft and Central are longtime supporters of the Food Depository, and it's humbling to receive their support during these difficult times. Be sure to watch Nevada take on Boston College on Sunday at AT&T Park.

Miracle at Union Station

2010-12-17T16:12:00.013-06:00

The holiday season is a particularly busy few months at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and our 650 member food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. But no matter how busy it gets, there is always something that reminds us of why we do what we do. It could be speaking with a family that will have a holiday meal because of a local pantry; a thank you note from a supporter; or the dedication of our volunteers. Last Tuesday, Food Depository staff and volunteers witnessed another truly amazing movement to end hunger in our community during our first-ever Union Station Food Drive.

Food Depository volunteers help assemble the collection bags for the Union Station Food Drive.

Through a partnership with BOMA, Food Depository staff and volunteers had the opportunity to distribute paper grocery bags during the Monday evening rush-hour on Dec. 13. The bags included a simple instruction sheet with most-needed food items. Commuters were asked to fill the bags and return them the next morning.

The response was astounding. In a matter of hours, the Food Depository had collected more than 6,000 pounds of food, making the Union Station Food Drive one of the most substantial collections of the year.

The Food Depository collected more than 6,000 in a matter of hours at Union Station on Dec. 14.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible—especially everyone who donated. Watch as One City, One Food Drive partner Fox Chicago was there to capture the action.

If you missed the Union Station Food Drive, it's never too late to organize one of your own! Visit www.every1can.org to get started.

Holiday ad campaign highlights difficult choices

2010-12-10T15:04:00.003-06:00

Many people in the community know the Greater Chicago Food Depository from its holiday advertising campaigns that appear on CTA trains and buses and at outdoor locations around town. I’ve met people who, when they learn I work at the Food Depository, begin quoting taglines from old ads to me. It’s amazing. We’re fortunate to have the creative services for the ads donated by the great team at Leo Burnett and to have the ad placement assistance of our friends at Starcom.

The first of the Depository’s 2010 holiday advertisements were posted last week. I drove past the intersection of Clark and Addison last Saturday and snapped the above photo in the snow. The ad reads: “Food or Shelter? No one should have to choose. Donate at chicagosfoodbank.org.” This year’s campaign highlights the difficult choices hungry people face—choices between food and medicine, food and shelter and food and heat. Featuring data from the Hunger in America 2010 study, the campaign encourages commuters to donate to the Food Depository online or via text.

Additionally, you may see ads in the Sun-Times and Tribune, and on Facebook and other prominent websites. On Dec. 13, WXRT begins its 12 Nights of Christmas, four hours of holiday music each evening presented by the Food Depository. We look forward to hearing from you as you see and hear the ads around town!

Columbia College's 8th Annual Holly Jolly Trolley food and fund drive benefits the Food Depository

2010-12-08T07:21:00.015-06:00

Today, for the eighth consecutive year, Columbia College will use a trolley and the air waves to raise food, funds and awareness for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Holly Jolly Trolley is making its return to collect nonperishable food as the college’s WCRX 88.1 FM radio team broadcasts live from the lobby of the 33 E. Congress Parkway building all day.

Along with seasonal holiday tunes, special guests include Santa and his elves, area choirs and performers. All food and funds collected directly benefits the Food Depository’s network of 650 member food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

If you are in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by or tune in throughout the day.

Healthy Helpings featured on ChefBites.TV

2010-12-07T17:04:00.023-06:00

A few months back, we mentioned we were working on an exciting video project with ChefBites.TV featuring the Healthy Helpings program and the older adults it serves.

Check out the finished video below!

Read more about Healthy Helpings and Marillac House here. Visit ChefBites.TV online or follow @chefbitesTV on Twitter to keep up with the crew’s latest adventures.

Nourishing our future: Congress faces critical step after Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T13:51:00.008-06:00

Yesterday, I watched as a group of Kindergarten and first graders took turns reading aloud “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do you See?” The children, most of them students at Clinton Elementary school in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood, were eager to show off their reading skills and kept raising their hands for a turn, squealing “teacher, teacher!” Except it wasn’t a teacher who was reading with them—it was Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (in photo, left) who had come out to visit a Kids Cafe to better understand the reality of hunger in America, a reality that unfolds every day in our own backyard.

Midway through the visit, the Congresswoman leaned over and told me that she had started her own schooling at Clinton. We watched as the children ate their meals and then turned their attention to homework and reading. We watched as the initial excitement of getting their food and milk cartons gave way to the focus and quiet of young minds concentrating.

When members of Congress return to Washington after the Thanksgiving break, they will have many important decisions awaiting them. One of the biggest is the Child Nutrition Reauthorization, which provides funding for school breakfasts, school lunches and programs like the Kids Cafe in the West Ridge. The latest statistics released by the USDA are stunning: There are now 17 million children in our nation who are food insecure. Stated differently, 1 out of 4 children in America is at risk of hunger. Passing the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act is a critical step to making sure that all of America’s children have access to food.

This Thanksgiving, I will think about standing in a Kids Cafe, watching 35 of those 17 million children. And I will hope that our country’s leaders will come back from break and pass the Child Nutrition Reauthorization and ensure that food flows out to communities like this. If children have access to nutritious food, they are more likely to be strong readers and successful students. They are more likely to move on from reading “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” to more challenging work, eventually graduating, perhaps going on to college and being well-prepared for the workforce. Who knows—maybe some of these children will even go on, someday, to be members of Congress.

Congratulations, Chicago’s Community Kitchens graduates!

2010-10-21T08:34:00.007-05:00

Family, friends and Greater Chicago Food Depository staff gathered at the Food Depository’s Southwest Side training and distribution center to celebrate the newest Chicago’s Community Kitchens graduates at the Autumn 2010 Graduation Ceremony on October 15. As the culmination of the 14-week foodservice training program, 15 students were honored for their hard work and successful competition of the program.

Graduates overcame early mornings, long commutes—not to mention working on their feet all day in a hot kitchen—to receive their graduation certificates Friday. With the support and encouragement of friends and family, the graduates worked to better themselves while preparing wholesome meals for hungry Chicagoans. During their time in the program, graduates helped to prepare 253,303 meals from scratch, for children and older adults at Food Depository member agencies throughout Cook County.

Event speakers included two outstanding student representatives, Stella Topps and Loren Brown, and Chicago’s Community Kitchens alumni Hector Vergara, who has worked at Chef Mindy Segal’s award-winning Mindy’s Hot Chocolate Restaurant
& Dessert Bar since his graduation a year ago. Festivities concluded with a delicious lunch prepared by current Chicago’s Community Kitchens students and staff. A mouth-watering menu included: ancho chile flank steak, seafood cioppino, roasted squash, delicious salads and freshly baked breads and desserts.

Congratulations to the Autumn 2010 Chicago’s Community Kitchens graduates:
Octavius Barlow, Deborah Borras, Loren Brown, Donell Cline, Carlos Gonzalez, Richard Johnston, Latrice Lee, Shanisha Madison, Jennifer Phillips, Nick Ross, Gita Thomas, Norman Thomas, Estelle Topps, Guadalupe Vavalle and Marquis Wilson.

Check out photos from the graduation ceremony in the Food Depository’s Flickr pool:

Making Music Matter

2010-10-20T10:20:00.001-05:00

For the second straight year, the Food Depository benefited from Charter One’s summer-long Making Music Matter initiative. And, for the second straight year, I volunteered at one of the concerts at Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island.

This year’s concert series was meant to raise awareness and funds for our Mobile Programs, of which Charter One, through a donation by the Charter One Foundation, is the Lead Corporate Supporter.

I volunteered for one of the first of the 17 concerts this summer: 311 and The Offspring. This concert also had a food drive component, where concertgoers were urged to bring canned food donations into the show and donate at the Charter One tent. The person who donated the most got a prize pack of 311-signed memorabilia.

I admit, I was a little glass-half-empty on the food donations we would get during the show because we were a little behind spreading the word. But 311 and Offspring fans proved me wrong. The winner brought in more than 120 pounds of food. In this case, I don’t mind being wrong.

The only bad thing about Making Music Matter was that I couldn’t volunteer for more of the concerts. I’m still kicking myself for not volunteering for the Stone Temple Pilots concert.

At the conclusion of the series, which ended a few weeks ago, concert goers helped raise more than $12,000, with the Zac Brown Band concert bringing in a series-record for donations raised (nearly $950).

Keep up with Making Music Matter all year on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Chicago's Community Kitchens featured on ChefBites.TV

2010-10-15T16:04:00.015-05:00

A few weeks ago, the Greater Chicago Food Depository was contacted by the Chicago-based Cimaglia Productions about an opportunity to participate in its new ChefBites.TV Web video project. The focus of the short video vignette would be the Food Depository’s Chicago’s Community Kitchens program—specifically the production and delivery of heat-and-serve Healthy Helpings meals to local older adults. We were thrilled with the opportunity and could not wait to get started. Filming began at the Food Depository as Chicago’s Community Kitchens staff and students prepared the Healthy Helpings meals from scratch—including curry-seasoned chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, fresh vegetables and pumpkin spice muffins. Properly-sized portions were arranged in single-serving biodegradable trays, sealed and flash-frozen for freshness. With the meals packaged, we were ready to head out into the community. Marillac House, a Food Depository member agency, invited the ChefBites.TV crew and me to shadow a few Healthy Helpings deliveries to home-bound older adults on the West Side.

Sister Mary Rita McSweeney heads up Marillac’s older adult program and delivers meals to 50 seniors each month. Serving the low-income communities on the West Side, Sister Mary Rita has seen how the Healthy Helpings meals impact her clients.

“To them, it's such a big thing that they don't have to worry about cooking,” Sister Mary Rita said of the meals, which are easily prepared in minutes by microwave or conventional oven. “They are wonderful meals that [clients] know are good for them. To hear their gratitude and excitement—I have the best job at Marillac.”

Our first stop of the day was the home of two sisters, Minnie Moore, 91, and Carrie Lewis, 94 (pictured above). For these sisters, the Healthy Helpings meals have fit seamlessly into their daily routine, while providing wholesome food they need. “When I don't want to cook for lunch I can put this right in the oven—I don't have to worry about seasoning,” Minnie said. “It's a blessing.”

Visit ChefBites.TV online or follow @chefbitesTV on Twitter to keep up with the crew’s latest adventures. Be sure to check back here and at http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/ to see the finished video in the coming weeks!

Getting Connected with our mission

2010-10-07T14:14:00.000-05:00

It's kind of weird when people thank me personally for helping to feed hungry people in Chicago. After all, I work on the Internet most hours of the day. Sure, I help share our mission and help bring in funds, but I don’t have any illusions that the Internet itself can steer a truck into our loading dock or give a bag of groceries to someone. I don't witness people struggling with hunger, struggling to make the tough decision of rent or food this week. Our member food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens—as well as those working in our warehouse—witness this every day.

That's why we have a program here called Get Connected, to help get out from behind our desks and experience what goes into hunger relief.

I worked the “Salvage” line recently, just one of the many tasks offered through the Get Connected program. The Salvage area is where all the food collected from food drives comes in, is sorted by quality and expiration, repacked and then distributed to our member agencies.

Heading into this time of year, the food drives start to add up (more than 500 will have been hosted from now through the end of this year). That’s a lot of food to go through, and I’m happy to pitch in. But it can be quite the task.

A conveyor belt whisks by with everything from canned baked beans and boxes of pasta to jars of pickles and juice boxes. I happened to be on tomato sauce/paste and canned vegetables that day. Thankfully, the items going past me have already been inspected for quality and expiration date, otherwise, this task would be nearly impossible. It was three hours of standing, sorting and lugging 40-pound boxes of canned food onto another conveyor.

Your back and legs can’t help but be a bit sore after the job, but being able to get my hands dirty, get in there and do a little manual labor, it’s worth it. I’m working with the food that our community donated so others less fortunate can have something to eat today. That's not something to take lightly.

I’m writing this a few days removed from Getting Connected, and thinking back, having a sore back from helping feed hungry people—well, that actually feels pretty good.

Pantry's efforts gain notice in Tinley Park

2010-10-01T09:37:00.003-05:00

There are so many people across Cook County who do everything they can to fight hunger in their communities. Most are volunteers, and most of their efforts go unnoticed. That's why it was so gratifying to see a story this week in the Southtown Star about the Tinley Park Food Pantry, a member agency of the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

I had the opportunity to visit the pantry on a cold March day in 2007. I remember it well because of the enthusiasm of its volunteers and its location in the relatively affluent suburb of Tinley Park. (I didn't have my digital camera with me that day, so you'll see that the picture above was taken with a film camera.) The pantry also had a clever means for getting food into its church basement location--a chute that delivered cartons through a converted window.

The Southtown Star story is also notable because of the involvement of a community garden that is donating fruit and vegetables to the pantry. Fresh, local produce is a key part of the Food Depository's new Strategic Plan, Growing the Field. Many pantries already are teaming up with urban agriculture initiatives, and the Food Depository plans to further tap into local growing in years to come. We've always distributed fresh produce, but we will be redoubling our efforts so that Chicagoans receive healthier food.

Awareness is half the battle in what we do. We plan to continue to chronicle these often overlooked stories on the blog in months ahead.

Chicago’s Community Kitchens provides early-morning inspiration

2010-10-01T08:52:00.007-05:00

At 7:30 a.m. the Greater Chicago Food Depository already is a bustling place. Students in the Chicago’s Community Kitchens program—the Food Depository’s free foodservice training program for unemployed and underemployed adults—are already hard at work preparing meals for Food Depository sites throughout Cook County. I stopped by the kitchen to see what students were cooking up.

On the menu this morning was a curry chicken breast over roasted sweet potatoes, paired with a side of cauliflower and broccoli with a pumpkin-spice muffin for dessert. These meals—prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients—will be packaged as individual heat-and-serve meals that are delivered to older adult residences and member food pantries for distribution.

Donna McCamley is working on chopping the broccoli for this meal. Donna, 50, is in her eighth week of the 14-week program and cannot believe how quickly the past two months have passed. “It’s going by really fast,” she said. “But I love it, I really do.”

Donna has an infectious smile and happily chats with me about her favorite Chicago’s Community Kitchens recipe (chicken and rice with foccatia bread) and her future plans (owning her own organic restaurant on the West Side, a food desert that lacks healthy food options). So, I’m not completely surprised when Donna tells me she learned about the program in the most unlikely of places: a CTA bus. One day, carrying a cake she decorated herself, Donna struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger who happened to have a sister who recently graduated from the Chicago’s Community Kitchens program. The friendly stranger encouraged Donna to check it out.

During a time when so many Cook County residents are struggling to make ends meet, it is inspiring to hear how Chicagoans continue to look out for one another, and to see Donna going after her goal with such enthusiasm. With partners like Donna, we can end hunger in our community.

Learn more about the Chicago's Community Kitchens program at www.chicagosfoodbank.org/cck.