South Chicago Heights pantry is a refuge and memorial
Transcription
South Chicago Heights pantry is a refuge and memorial
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Children’s meals offer hope.2 Hunger Walk draws more than 6,200 walkers.3 Agriculture Secretary visits the Food Depository.3 Food Depository offers new cold meal program for Kids Cafes.4 Agency networks plan for success.5 Southwest Side pantry seeing unprecedented need.6 Real Estate Awards Steering Committee named Prized Partner of the Quarter.6 Cook County residents in need to benefit from debut of Mobile Pantry.7 Taking a spin with Making Music Matter..8 foodforthought A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY n VOLUME 14.1 Fall 2009 Juan and Stella Hernandez of Alicia’s House Food Pantry have served their community for nearly a decade. South Chicago Heights pantry is a refuge and memorial or Juan and Stella Hernandez, Alicia’s House, the South Chicago Heights food pantry they founded in 2001, is more than a social services agency. The pantry stands as a monument to their late granddaughter, after whom the pantry is named, and whose memory motivates Juan and Stella to continue their work. F “It’s all a labor of love,” Juan said. “We do it because a little 4-year-old girl taught us there is something more to life than being so self-centered.” Stella first got involved in hunger relief in 1998, volunteering at a local church pantry. A few years later, when Alicia was old enough to help, she would often accompany her grandmother to pantry distributions. “It was always more fun for me when [Alicia] was around,” Stella remembered. When Alicia died in a household accident in January 2001, Juan and Stella turned to the pantry as a way to cope. In order to help more people and share the memory of their granddaughter, Juan and Stella began looking for ways to expand and enhance the small pantry’s services to reach a wider range of people. Now located in a newly renovated building, Alicia’s House has grown from serving 10 families to 70 during its weekly two-hour distributions. With the economic crisis and more people in need than ever before, Juan and Stella turned to the Greater Chicago Food Depository as a resource for new, innovative ways to build capacity. “The Food Depository is a great tool,” Juan said. “It’s a source of knowledge to draw from, and workshops allow us to share new ideas.” Alicia’s House recently has led the way in creating a collective delivery program for the Food Depository’s South Suburban agencies. Juan and Stella also share their experiences with new agencies through the Food Depository’s mentoring program. “We don’t try to always focus on Alicia’s House but what’s good for everybody,” Juan explained. “If I can make everyone’s pantry successful by sharing knowledge and resources—that makes my job easier.” n Children’s meals offer hope Hunger Walk draws more than 6,200 walkers Summer is winding down, and I can already feel the change in the air that signals the arrival of another fall. School supplies are being replaced by Halloween costumes on the store shelves, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository has started getting phone calls about holiday food distributions. Yet, even as I begin preparing for the fall, I keep remembering one day this summer. It was one of our few really hot days in June, when the air was already heavy and humid as I stood on the shipping dock of our warehouse at 6:30 a.m. on June 25, watching our Kids Cafe trucks get loaded with meals prepared in our Chicago’s Community Kitchens Program. When the truck was loaded, I climbed aboard and during the next several hours helped our driver as we delivered those meals to Kids Cafes throughout the West Side of Chicago— from West Town on to Humboldt Park, East and West Garfield Park, Austin, North Lawndale, Little Village and, finally Pilsen. Riding in the truck that hot day I was reminded how each neighborhood in our city is different, with its own personality and feel. And yet each neighborhood is faced with the prospect of thousands of children in need. We delivered food to 15 Kids Cafes, visiting schools, community centers, a church and several renovated storefronts. The meals we delivered—lasagna along with a green salad, fresh pears, whole grain bread and milk—are the nutritious centerpiece of these summer programs. They make it possible for children to read, to be tutored, to play sports, to sing, dance, paint and sculpt, to volunteer in their community. These meals are about so much more than food—they are about hope. The following week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited the Greater Chicago Food Depository and spent time serving a meal at one of the Kids Cafes I had delivered to just a few days before. Secretary Vilsack had the chance to meet first-hand some of the more than 12 million children at risk of hunger in our country. It was a timely visit. Congress will soon be turning its attention to the Child Nutrition Reauthorization—a giant piece of legislation that funds child nutrition programs such as the one that makes our Kids Cafe program possible. It is tempting to think of this as a jumble of “inside the beltway” activity. And yet, a strong bill will ensure that food banks, schools and other anti-hunger programs in our community will be able to provide quality meals to young children. In the weeks ahead, Secretary Vilsack will be called upon to talk about the role of federal programs in combating childhood hunger. It’s humbling to know that he will be bringing his experiences at a Food Depository Kids Cafe to the conversation. All of our voices will make a difference in furthering this important legislation. You can show your support of child nutrition programs by submitting a letter to Congress through our online advocacy center. Because delivering meals—and hope—is essential for thousands of kids in our community, not just in the heat of summer, but all year long. am r’s Dream Te This quarte om left, Phil includes: fr ouse lead wareh Rodriguez, , nnie Rivera worker; Jea nt; ta is tions ass agency rela Paul r e rt a f the Qu o e ye lo p m E ager sistant man s a , u a e B e L Community of Chicago’s nwell, hurman Co Kitchens; T t; and ing assistan d housekeep o fo ard, senior tor. Libby Hubb a in ach coord stamp outre unity hicago’s Comm C f o er ag an u, assistant m a unique and or Paul Le Bea g adult students succeed is in Kitchens, help ience. er ink of rewarding exp aching they th we’re helping te t u o ab k in itchens, people th “Often, when t Chicago’s Community K ish their education.” ow able to fin l explained. “A children,” Pau gotten off track—but are n Paul e ring company, mmer te ca o adults who hav ag ic h C the su upscale anager for an Depository staff full time in d supporting m t en ev er rm an ts A fo ood ater Chicago F ing new studen joined the Gre both responsible for recruit sit passes and gas cards to r an o is of 2008. Paul . Whether it’s distributing tr n to and from the program , ts io en at en rt d ch o u it current st tside of the k reliable transp u e o av ts h en ts d u en d st u make sure st ly life skills class to inform k teaching a wee able resource. lu Paul is an inva F C orrection: n FOOD FOR THOUGHT 2 >3 ed ucce s o t s e c n a ond ch c ain se g s t l u d a s in help pta a c m a e T m a Dre his past June, the Greater Chicago Food Depository hosted its most successful Hunger Walk to date. Celebrating its 24th year, the Hunger Walk saw a record 6,269 supporters turn out to Montrose Harbor on June 20—increasing last year’s attendance by more that 1,200 walkers. Along with the beautiful weather, participants enjoyed the 2.5-mile walk along the lakefront, face painting, music and choral groups and a performance from the Jesse White Tumbling Team. l helps restaurants, Pau l d an s se es n si local bu rests. Pau tionships with s that fit their culinary inte well as after la re g in d il u b te si By as ith internship t eir internships, pair students w in with students during th and answer questions abou t s k regularly chec ing them secure employmen p el h , n graduatio s world. al n io unity Kitchen rogram m m o the profess C ’s o ag er of the Chic ingredient that keeps the p ag an m , es n Jo e Chef Anna ard work is th h l’s au P s ve ie program, bel ly. ful th e has a wonder “H . id sa a running smoo n n gram,” A of those and for the pro at he can to make the jobs h t h g ri y m is “Paul oes wh e and always d can-do attitud unity him easier.” icago’s Comm said. h “C . working with d ee cc su es,” he g others ward is helpin udents how to help themselv re e th l, au P r o st F ream igned to show this quarter’s “D ce. n to ed am Kitchens is des n e er en ployees w t to excell l, four other em hic and overall commitmen au P h it w g n Alo rk et r attitude, wo Team” for thei In July’s special 30th anniversary edition of Food for Thought, we mistakenly equated 50 million loaves of bread with 750 million pounds, the Food Depository’s total distribution to date. If that were true, one loaf would weigh 15 pounds! A standard loaf of bread only weighs 20 ounces—one would need 600 million loaves to reach 750 million pounds. To date, the 2009 Hunger Walk has raised more than $500,000 for the Food Depository’s network of 600 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. The much-needed funds will help agencies provide nutritious food to the 500,000 hungry people in Cook County each year. In the face of the troubled economy and rising unemployment rates, Food Depository member agencies have seen a 35 percent increase in the number of individuals turning to their services compared to last year. T When we arrived back at the Food Depository at the end of the day, I was hot, tired, sore—and proud. In one day, we had delivered 980 meals throughout the community. And while I wouldn’t be riding on the truck the next day, I knew that the food and hope would continue to flow out through our amazing network of community partners. PHOTO: EDWARD FOX PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO: CHARLIE WESTERMAN By Kate Maehr Executive Director rch against ined the ma jo rs e lk a w to support ,200 ose Harbor More than 6 tr n o M t a 0 network of une 2 Depository’s hunger on J d o o F o g a helters. Chic chens and s the Greater it k p u o s , s ntrie 600 food pa New to this year’s walk was an online fundraising component. Individuals, member agencies and corporate groups had the opportunity to create a team profile on the Food Depository’s Web site enabling them to post fundraising goals and their progress. The online profile made it even easier for Food Depository supporters to spread the word to their friends, family and co-workers. Special thanks to master of ceremonies and Food Depository Board Member Pastor Leonardo D. Gilbert and to this year’s generous sponsors: Chicago’s 100.3 FM, ConAgra Foods, Home Run Inn Pizza, Intelligentsia Coffee, Jewel-Osco, Marquette Bank, Panera Bread, PepsiCo, Quaker Tropicana Gatorade and WCIU. n Month Action ffort Hunger nationwide e M during ost a series nger Action hicago will h icipate in Hu C rt a x p o F ill d w n a ry od Give back Jewel-Osco od Deposito enefit the Fo onth, a drive to b cond year, r Chicago Fo gislators, od and fund f. For the se fo r the Greate lie e g re b n r o m e -l g te n th p u g letters to le n e h n o S ti r m ri fo a w This y ss re e B tu n a k. September. ill fe Ban s and aware ed a lot this Osco also w Illinois Food lfe e rn d e w n h a Je rt to raise fund e o d tl N n lit a d n area stores u can give a mber est Indiana a of events at and funds, yo uring Septe nk of Northw d d a o r B e fo g d g n o n u o ti h F a t e n th do ways to figh Depository, epository or events and th t the Food D n a o g n M ri n e o te ti n c volu g Hunger A on upcomin n k.org. o n ti a a b d rm o fo fo icagos h .c For more in w w w it und, vis and year-ro ry visits a t e r c e S e r Agricultu y epositor D the Food Chicago Food d the Greater Tom Vilsack Agriculture f o ry ta re c director of U.S. Se hr, executive sitory, e a M te a K joined od Depo an Chicago Fo The Americ the Greater food bank. e th f o s r a u h for a to tment Act nd Reinves od to date Recovery a pounds of fo 0 0 ,0 5 0 6 d e provid Depository. to the Food toure e n help meet th re Tom Vilsack u ca lt A cu D ri S g U A e f o th out how the Food U.S. Secretary learn more ab nt of the food to ce 9 er 2 p e 5 n 2 Ju y ds el ry Deposito which also fun ty. Approximat , n A u o D S C U k o e o th C mes from rising need in ram. s to pantries co te u ib tr d Service Prog is o d o F ry er m m u S Deposito the 605,000 ids Cafes and ry has received to si o ep after-school K D d o f the A, the Fo fruit because o ividuals es of the USD ed ic ix sp m au d e an th es er Und ms to help ind , canned peach ai ce t u ac sa e le h p T . ap f ct o pounds isis. The Food einvestment A cr R ic d m an o n ry o ve ec o e rams ause of th American Rec struggling bec children’s prog e ed ar d o n h fu w s ly ie al il vice der and fam mer Food Ser m utes food to fe u S ib tr d is an d es so af ose al Depository n at one of th school Kids C rre d te il af ch 0 5 to an ch th lun including more retary Vilsack helped serve Side. ec S s. th t on e West en m er Program site w o p m E onths,” a’s Family the summer m r sites, St. Agath ve t o ry g n u h y go is an importan tr n m u ra co g r ro u P o ce in s od Servi even “Too many kid he Summer Fo utritious food n “T y, . h id lt sa ea h ck sa to il have access Secretary V at all children th re su en to effort mer.” n out for the sum is l o o h sc en h w GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY n Food Depository offers new cold meal program for Kids Cafes PHOTO: CHARLIE WESTERMAN his summer, the Union League Boys and Girls Club at Talcott Elementary School and seven other sites participated in the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s new cold meal program. The program aims to alleviate pressure on Kids Cafes that do not have the resources or staffing to prepare hot meals every day. The club, located in the school building, serves as a Kids Cafe site during the school year, but the program runs into obstacles come summer, explained director Leo Barron. T n u t r i t i o n The Food Depository distributes nearly 2,500 prepared meals a day to Kids Cafe after-school programs across Cook County. Kids Cafes provide tutoring, membership and fitness activities in a safe, nurturing environment. The cold meal program now offers participating Kids Cafes a ready-to-serve option. Beginning with an initial pilot of eight sites serving 350 children, the Food Depository hopes to grow by five sites this fall and serve an additional 550 children by November. So far, the cold meals have solved both of Leo’s problems. With choices like roast beef or peanut butter-andjelly sandwiches, milk, fruit and vegetables, the boxed lunches are both enjoyable and nutritious. The meals also offer Leo flexibility when planning activities for the club’s programs. “The kids are more receptive to sandwiches in the summer and we can take the meals with us when we go on field trips,” he said. To help achieve President Obama’s goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015, get involved by signing up for the Food Depository’s action alerts by going to www.chicagosfoodbank.org and clicking “Advocate.” For more information, call the Food Depository at 773-247-3663. n Building capacity St. Vincen t de Paul Coordinato Food Pan r Denise H try oward can heavy can now store ned good s safely a nd distrib ute healthy fo od efficien tly. to better serve Last fall, Kit ch remodeling en Tune-Up Company, firm, wante d to give ba a local kitchen and ba donation, K ck. throom itchen Tune -Up husban Without the means to Hanson con With the he d an ma ta lp o donate its se cted the Greater Chica d wife co-owners Scott ke a cash th e project, K f a Food Depository gra go Food De rvices to a m a n d V ir itchen Tune g inia po e Vincent de -Up set to w nt to purchase the mate Paul Food P mber agency. Food De sitory hoping instead to ork. rials for In a matter of po antry, a Nort some remod w e e h Side agen sitory staff suggested S k eling. s, th e overloaded cy desperate t. kitchenette pantry was transformed ly in need o “We’re a sm to fro W a space tailo ir f e shelving su all red to the p m an p p o explained, “ company without a lo rt e d a u h ntry’s needs. n e avy canned its into an a to [D it d e ja m c e s n something fo onating our services] g f extra capital to give,” a t n ro d , o streamline o b m, Denise a ave our emp V r someone e perations. nd her volu y moving cabinet loyees a cha irginia lse.” n te ers can nce to do Working ou “[Kitchen T t of a kitche u n e -Up] was m nette space Coordinato a small spac desi rD e,” Denise e ost helpful in determin for distributi enise Howard barely h gned for domestic use, xplained. ing how to Pa ad o utilize such “We don’t h the weight o ns. Moreover, the cabin room to store the foo ntry ave a budge d she neede ets had begu f the canned t o o u r r own—tha d n to sag and goods. nk God for the manpower to do th bow under “It wasn’t pra m Kitchen Tun is e li k e I was a payin ctical when e-Up,” Den type of project on serving as m g c u st is o e m said. “They e r.” any people a After seeing For Kitchen treated s we do,” D the space an T u ne-Up, the o enise said. d talking wit Scott and V “ It ’s p p a o mazing wha irg h t Denise do rtunity to give back wa and offered inia suggested a layout Denise about the pantr honored to e s pa s, ” Virginia sa better storag y’s needs, that utilized have the op id. Added S yment enough. e options to of food item the small sp portunity to cott: “We w support the ace s. help.” n ere volume and I n te r e st e d weight in donating in at 773-247- 3663. Give -kind suppor t? Contact th e Food Depo what you can sitory . u p fo r r e v i e w this fa l l What’s at stake for Illinois? • More than 1.1 million Illinois children participate in the National School Lunch Program, getting free or reduced-price lunches at school. • The School Breakfast Program serves 275,469 schoolchildren in Illinois. • Nearly 295,000 Illinoisans participated in WIC in 2007. • It’s estimated that 33 percent of those served by the Greater Chicago Food Depository are children. • Child nutrition programs represent a $387 million annual federal investment in Illinois’ youth. *Source for federal nutrition program participation data: Food Research and Action Center, State of the States 2008, Illinois. Retrieved from http://www.frac.org/State_Of_States/2008/states/IL.pdf. our neighbors Local com p a helps tune ny pantry in n up eed n FOOD FOR THOUGHT 4>5 l a w As children head back to school, Congress will review the law that authorizes federally funded child nutrition programs. The legislation includes the School Breakfast and the National School Lunch Programs, the Summer Food Service Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). The legislation encompasses the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Kids Cafe and Nourish for Knowledge programs that ensure low-income children across Cook County have access to the nutritious food they need to learn and succeed. “In the past, I’ve found two problems during the summer,” Leo said. “It is harder to get into the school kitchen to prepare the hot meals and the building is hot, so the kids don’t want to eat hot meals.” The Greater Chicago Food Depository distributes prepared meals to more than 50 Kids Cafe after-school programs across Cook County. C h i l d embers r Network m e g n u -H ti n A eeting at North Side ng a recent m ri u . d ls a o g ir incoln Square discuss the l Library in L a n io g e R r e Conrad Sulz ector of an, associate dir er House h la al ’C O h it d For Ju Christoph port Services at treasurer, formulating the West Side p d Su an y il er b o am F ct O rk in network Pullman Netwo finish in December. With the North Side nged the network to learn d an to ed challe ork has the Network slat a strategic plan ients and find innovative ways place, the netw in n la l p c ca o cl gi L s te a stra dman more about it apply for a Goo munity. opportunity to part-time staff member to to serve its com know,” a , w lo . el es F iv bject ore our clients o m Hunger d e an th s , al ow go n g k n e enti “The more w assist in implem rst fi s rk o w et n e said. d lle and North Si ate their service areas, Judith vi hicago ze ar n ye ro eB re e h th T a am director at C sident, evalu gr part of to a ro t p as , an , d lt ll o ts o n fa su n t sg ie cl as g O co re p r his Tom met with a l challenges fo Side network p h dman Supportin ta h o o rt en o G m N e n e th ro th vi m d o en fr an t grant Hope and pinpoin bers. e efficiency wit pen er Chicago em th at g m re n G rk vi o e ro w th p et , n n im r io o at fo Foundat hopes th five member and obstacles ibutes food will enting ed tr er is ff d o ed rk ry re o to w ag si et s o n rk supplem Food Dep which the hen oth netwo nal services. By employment unity to strengt te and Representatives from b y out their strengths, io rt it o d p p ad o r e fo th rs s o rk o d time to la ns with un re comple agency netwo that taking the created a sense food distributio rses and other health and provide mo d. r s er la n ap io gu p at re n iz o s an al rg o go their in nee ition cou weaknesses and se that made them more to Chicagoans counseling, nutr agencies can better support o rp , u es efficient service p ci in rk of unity sters of agen services, netwo forward. ry has seven clu at team up g to d. n in si o go ep d D se d rs cu o o fo o th ed eighb in nee in ty n The F la n r p u ei o ex th C ” k r, o ge o n C ro ross e much st or networks, ac and ideas. The Bronzeville a network we ar t of the Bronzeville s “A es rc u so e siden n to share re North Sid Rod Wilson, pre work. “We now have cohesio etwork and the rst to complete N r ge n u -H et ti N n A e fi ger etwork were th work Anti-Hun vision.” Anti-Hunger N cess, with the Englewood Net ed ar sh a and t the planning pro in August, the Roseland/Wes n finalizing its pla GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY n s k r o w t e n y Agenc s s e c c u s r o f n pla T FOOD NEWS la, left, and Elizabeth Arreo day Paul-Third Sun St. Vincent de of am te tireless Food Pantry’s n arrive hours te of volunteers n kly distributio before the wee to prepare. d e e n d e t n e d e c e r p n u g n i e e s y r t n a p e d i S t s Southwe eful for n, Silvia is grat re ild ch g un With three yo pantry. sight. Many gets from the e of t sh ou od d fo an e k th the bloc g in the extends down ilvia said. children playin g y un da yo un S ith w lp me a lot,” S ird he es Th y ili lm he au t. fa P “T ai e w de ar t s nt t. Vincen t Side d that while hile their pare the Southwes Cacho explaine stributions church yard w ny an D to r gs g in Food Pantry on ee ba nt rn ie lu Vo ay di good r of people tu out during holid s motivated to put together ed or st lp a be zz r he saw the numbe e to nearly 7,500 pi s ou ha en do he “We od a miniature froz owing need ha the pantry expl e children with the past, the gr eth. “A little adruple th in ab qu r liz fo to E e d os ne cl ai e. eet,” expl past April— during him to do mor something sw individuals this pantry served e ” th n. int where le ca e op w pe e n rreola, th grown to the po get,” Danny eat—whe A s tr h ha et the number of ] in ab ry f nt liz of E pa . id “[The th in 2008 e help she can e have been la has seen the same mon of the for their eth needs all th the clients in lin ry past 16 years, ab nt of e y liz th pa E r e an fo M th t see the end s. or n’ ht on ct ig do nd u he pe yo w de ne es d h im pantry dire an ac said. “Somet o, 51, worked recent months r community re e hours.” s. Silvia Frausd venue office the need in he ie er g in oc m gr for at least thre y co e kl e lin ar ee A w le n op ga hi pe ic raM rved is one d hundreds of usekeeping fo acks of ach person se acks. Not yet st ho “E tb e in h: th cu et “Hundreds an to to ab im ng liz E ni ct Added falling vi said. Motio ks, Silvia behind building until for need.” n in,” Elizabeth ployment chec uce and bread em od un pr e h less struggle iv es is fr ce th re s, ll to od “A le go h, ib rc ed ig hu . el nn ca ’s C Sunday for food ment of St. Rita relies on Third . her in the base id sa e sh ” y, g to make it,” t toda how I was goin food will go ou ng ri de , on ns w tio stribu “I was ld me about e church for di iend of mine to th fr in “A e e . th id ac sa sp nd t ia hi Silv Withou tent be .” rs have built a [Third Sunday] pantry voluntee people wait in a line that , de building. Outsi S n Longtime supporter Bruce Springsteen donated four tickets and four backstage passes to the Greater Chicago Food Depository to be auctioned for his concert on May 12 at the United Center. Four lucky fans, pictured, had the opportunity to meet Mr. Springsteen before the show. The winning bids and a matching gift from Mr. Springsteen were donated to the Food Depository to help fight hunger in Cook County. n The 45th class of Chicago’s Community Kitchens, the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s culinary training program, graduated on June 19. More than 600 students have now graduated from the program since 1998. n ABC 7 Chicago, a longtime supporter of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, has been honored by the Illinois Broadcasters Association for its leadership in the ABC 7 and Dominick’s Holiday Food Drive. ABC 7 won the 2009 Silver Dome Award for Best Community Service Activity. n More than 60,000 pounds of food were donated to the Food Depository from 19 colossal structures at the third annual Canstruction design/ build competition, held in June at the Apparel Mart. Chicago architects, engineers and construction companies showed off their designs and engineering skills to help fight hunger. Thank you to Canstruction sponsors: Joyce Brothers, Merchandise Mart, Peapod and Cushing. n Leo Burnett Worldwide received an ADDY® Award for a campaign it created pro bono for the Food Depository in 2008. “Food shouldn’t feel like a luxury” received recognition in the silver category at the American Advertising Federation National Conference in June. n Twenty volunteers gathered in Grant Park at the end of the Taste of n Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks, teamed up with Chicago to rescue food for the Food Depository. More than 3,500 pounds of corn, cherries, grapes and bread were collected. NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” this past season on the Pound For Pound Challenge. For every pound viewers pledged to lose, General Mills donated 14 cents to Feeding America—enough to provide one pound of groceries to a local food bank like the Food Depository. Viewers pledged a total of 3.5 million pounds. n The Food Depository conducted its annual physical inventory at the end of May. Staff recorded more than 2.7 million food items in the warehouse. n The Food Depository took to the floor of McCormick Place three times recently to collect unused food from food industry trade shows. Volunteers collected 66,000 pounds of food at the National Restaurant Association Show, 49,238 pounds at the Kehe Food Show and 6,700 pounds at the All Things Organic Show. Follow the Food Depository on Twitter! Learn more about upcoming events and food bank news at http://twitter.com/FoodDepository. Cook Cou nty reside nts from debu t of Mobile in need to benefit Pantry Volunteers from Kraft Foods help nutritious items to n ed distrib early 600 Food Pan Skokie-are ute 8,000 pounds o try on Jun f a residents e 30. at Niles To w nship Real Estate Awards Committee members, from left, Victor Toft, Blue Ribbon Panel Chair David Reifman, Steering Committee Chair Bob Six and Rick Schuham celebrated at this year’s Commercial Real Estate Awards. OF TH S GR E QUA EA TE R CH ICA RTER Real Estate Awards Steering Committee named Prized Partner of the Quarter The 21st Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards Steering Committee has been chosen as the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Prized Partner of the Quarter for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008-2009. The committee was the force behind a successful Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner this past March—an event that raised more than $800,000 for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Representing 29 companies, the 39 volunteer members of the committee donated their time leading up to, and during, the event to raise funds for the Food Depository. By soliciting colleagues to purchase a table at the awards ceremony— considered the Oscars of the real estate n FOOD FOR THOUGHT 6 > 7 industry—all table sales directly benefited the Food Depository. The committee also encouraged attendees to donate throughout the evening. Despite the troubled economy, the event-night donations more than doubled that of last year’s event, totaling more than $38,000. Steering Committee Chair Bob Six of Zeller Realty Group challenged committee members to make personal donations to the Food Depository. The “Chairman Challenge” alone helped raise nearly $9,000 for the Food Depository. By championing the event, committee members were instrumental in raising awareness— introducing the Food Depository to new partners GO kokie-area re sid County to re ents were among the fi rst in Cook ceive nutritio u Pantry dona ted by Kraft s food from a new Mob Chicago Fo and healthy ile Foods Foun od Deposito nonperishab dation to th ry. le items dire e m e rg e e n G c y re ctly to comm food progra At the Mob ater m ile Pantry’s fi unities with s. Kraft Foo the nation’s rst distributi li d s June 30, a te n F e tw o u o n rk d a ti o on at Niles T f food bank on and Feed mited am of 25 Kra in si x o s, th in o a e w g America, r re ft Foods volu nship Food and other it locations na rolling out M Pantry on ems to nearl tionwide th nteers helpe o b il e P a ntry vehicle is year. y 600 indiv The truck w “The faces o s iduals durin d hand out fresh produ ill allow the f the clients g c e a tw F ood Deposi h Mobile Pan o a o -h v f e o th c u h e r anged,” said distribution Niles Townsh to try sites to 2 . Cynthia Ca ip Food Pan 0—equaling ry to double the numb that will be to a rran c c tr o m y, e r a m w n additiona o distributed o h f d ic it a h s te is its recent gro moving into za, director l 960,000 p in the comin h o u w se a larger buil th holds a mon ounds of foo . Niles Town g year. “The deman ding th—up 300 d sh ip d at our me n o w serves 1,000 households mber pantrie past year,” sa “ W fr e om the sam have had sen s has surged id e time last y iors and sin by 35 perce new Mobile Kate Maehr, executive in ear. th g le e m p n a t during the others and p st,” Cynthia director of th Pantry is a v e e o x p ital addition e Food Dep p le la direct respo u w in n it e e d h m . “Now we a disabilities ployment h ository. “Th to nse for hung lso have pro as run out.” e ry men, wom our fleet and helps us fe ss ionals whose p rovide a en and child The 24-foot The Mobile ren.” Mobile Pan P a n tr y will travel try is outfitt bays, enabli County—p to o ed with refr ng the truck a rt ic u la rly those ne ther communities throu ig e rated and dry to deliver 13 o f p overty and li ighborhood ghout Cook ,000 pound s with a hig mited food s of fresh pro storage n h e a ig ss c o h is n b ta centration o duce n rhoods of C hatham, Ch ce, including the Chica Rogers Park icago Lawn, go and Uptown Fuller Park, .n Kenwood, Food D FOO D D E PO SITORY and opening the doors for future collaborations within the commercial real estate industry. The success of the event promoted the Food Depository’s cause both within the commercial real estate community and Chicagoland at large. “The effort of the 21st Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards Steering Committee is the reason this year’s awards dinner was such a success,” said Kate Maehr, executive director of the Food Depository. “The Food Depository is proud to have the Steering Committee as our Prized Partner for this quarter and count its members as supporters of hunger relief.” n epository distributes On June 3 58 million 0, Greater Chic pound of fo pounds of food od this yea ago Food Deposito ry staff cele then-record r—a new o rganization brated the distributio distributio n of 46 mil record and number of n of its 58 lion pe 12 million m pounds m supporters ople turning to pantr pounds. Despite th ore than la illionth e 35 perce ies this ye helped me st year’s ar, Food D nt increase et the nee in Cook C epository d in our co ounty has in the staff and mmunity— access to nutritious e n s uring every food. one GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY n Taking a spin with Making Music Matter Calendar of Events SEPTEMBER ALL MONTH 16 Hunger Action Month. Cook County. Making Music Matter Summer Concert Series. Charter One Pavilion. U.S. Foodservice Food Show. Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel. 17 Prized Partner Recognition Dinner. Food Depository. Jewel-Osco and Fox Chicago’s Give a Little Feed A Lot Food and Fund Drive. Participating Jewel-Osco stores. 18-20 1-2 Kids Day. Food Depository. Making Music Matter Summer Concert Series: Allman Brothers with Widespread Panic. Charter One Pavilion. 7 Panera Cereal Drive. All Cook County Panera locations. 19 19 White Sox Wives Food Drive. U.S. Cellular Field. 20 Labor Day. Food Depository closed. Bruce Springsteen’s Working on a Dream concert. United Center. 14 The Cheesecake 24 Factory Soup Drive and Peapod’s 20th Cross-Country Tour. Old Orchard Shopping Center. Anniversary Celebration and Food Drive. Pioneer Plaza. 15 World’s Largest 25 Dinner Party Kick Off. Agency Appreciation Macy’s, 111 N. State St. and Award Ceremony. and Water Tower Place. Food Depository. 16 Macy’s Come Together Culinary Event with Rick Bayless. Macy’s, 111 N. State St. 16 Larry and Lillian Goodman Hunger Forum. Food Depository. OCTOBER 1 Monarch Food Group Food Show. Hyatt Regency O’Hare. 11 Bank of America’s Chicago Marathon Food Rescue. Michigan and Balbo. Making Music Matter at the Charter One 17 summer. In addition, Charter One Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island has already raised more than $6,000 at concerts this Kids Day. Food Depository. also has provided a $100,000 foundation grant to support the Food Rescue 17 Shop For A Cause. Participating Macy’s stores. Program. The summer-long partnership 21-22 drive at the Widespread Panic and Allman with Charter One culminates with a food 24th Annual Holiday Exchanges Fund Drive. Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Chicago Stock Exchange and CME Group. Brothers Band shows on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2. Concert attendees will have the opportunity to spin the Charter One prize wheel (left) and donate nonperishable food 22 items to the Food Depository. Futures Industry Association’s Futures Cares Dinner. Hilton Chicago. 31 Worldwide Food Expo. McCormick Place. 25 National Automatic Merchandising Association National Expo. Navy Pier. 28 Yom Kippur Food Drive. Beth Emet Synagogue. For event updates, visit www.chicagosfoodbank.org. Inaugural Dinner Series takes place of Bag Hunger Auction As the Greater Chicago Food Depository celebrates its 30th anniversary, the successful Bag Hunger Auction will take a new shape. Spread over five nights this fall, each evening will feature an intimate dinner hosted by a different Chicago restaurant. These exclusive, limited seating events will include auction items and delectable cuisine. In the spirit of Bag Hunger, the dinner series aims to bring local restaurants, chefs and diners together for an important cause. All funds raised will help the Food Depository provide food for hungry men, women and children in our community. Anniversary ads thank Chicagoans The Greater Chicago Food Depository photographed celebrities, pantry volunteers and Chicago’s Community Kitchens graduates this spring for an advertising campaign recognizing Chicagoans’ 30 years of support of the food bank. The campaign will be posted at outdoor locations around Chicago and on CTA trains and buses in August. To view all of the ads, visit www.chicagosfoodbank.org/30years. Cubs manager Lou Piniella showed his support of hunger relief by participating in the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s new advertising campaign. Providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community A charter member of Feeding America Greater Chicago Food Depository 4100 W. Ann Lurie Place Chicago, Illinois 60632 773-247-FOOD www.chicagosfoodbank.org Non-Profit Organ. U.S. Postage PAI D Chicago, IL Permit No. 1011
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