Helen said, “When the heating bills got so high, I just tried not to use much gas and sat in the dark to save money. I got a bad cold and had to go to the doctor. I had to spend my food money on medicine. Thank goodness for the food pantry. I used to be so proud, but now I have to survive on a fixed income and I'm too old to get a job. My money choices aren't about vacations or retirement funds, but about daily existence.”

Helen, a senior over age 65, is like 7.6% of individuals utilizing the services of agencies served by NIFB. These individuals sometimes have to choose between life-sustaining medications, housing and utilities, or food. With a fixed income and tight budget, seniors are at a major disadvantage. This is just one of the many reasons why Northern Illinois Food Bank is here to help serve agencies that reach out to our neighbors so that they can get through the "rough spots" in life and so that the choice of food OR medicine OR housing is never one that has to be made. Learn how you can help.