$1 
Every dollar donated to NIFB provides 7 meals to the hungry

96%
Percentage of each donation that goes directly to feeding the hungry

A TABLE FOR 192,000, PLEASE:
NIFB To Distribute 24,000 Holiday Meal Boxes This Holiday Season

Hundreds of caring volunteers kicked off Northern Illinois Food Bank’s 2006 Holiday Meal Box Program at its St. Charles, Park City, and Rockford locations in October and November. NIFB is working to provide a brighter holiday for 192,000 individuals throughout northern Illinois.

Volunteers, in assembly lines, started packing the non-perishable food items for the holiday meal boxes, including potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, vegetables, coffee, and desserts to provide a traditional holiday meal for a family of eight. When the delivery days arrive in November and December, a 12-14-pound frozen turkey will be added. The boxes will be delivered to NIFB partner agencies that will give them to those in need. Groups of volunteers at NIFB will continue to pack Holiday Meal Boxes during November and December. Those interested in volunteering must call the NIFB location to be scheduled as shifts are filling up quickly.

“The demand has nearly doubled for our annual Holiday Meal Box Program. The Food Bank will provide 24,000 Holiday Meal Boxes to families in need through our partner agencies,” said H. Dennis Smith, NIFB executive director and CEO. “We continue to see an increase in the number of people needing food assistance through all of our programs. According to Hunger In America 2006, NIFB is providing food to over 16,000 more people each week than in 2001 – approximately 37,400 different people now receive help weekly.”
Generous donors like Panera Bread, Sweet Baby Rays, and Sara Lee Corporation provided lunch or snacks for the kick off events.

A "LINK" TO FOOD:
NIFB Pilots Innovative Food Stamp Program

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
We cannot stick our heads in the sand concerning the issue of hunger in America.  Even though this subject seldom reaches the front page of our newspapers or is featured on news programs because of its lack of sensationalism, the problem exists in massive proportions and must be defeated.
- Bruce Davison
 

You can support the Northern Illinois Food Bank's mission to provide nutritious food to all those in need through our own efforts and those of our non-profit partners. Click here to make a donation TODAY!

MESON SABIKA:
Cooking Up A Delicious Fundraiser

Tapas? Spanish wines? A Flamenco dancer and guitarist? You might assume that you would have to travel over 4000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean for an evening like this but Spain may be a little closer than you think. Over 200 people discovered a piece of Spain on October 13th at Meson Sabika, a tapas restaurant in Naperville, for a fundraiser to fight hunger.

Hossein Jamali, the owner of Meson Sabika, has been an active philanthropist in the community for years and wanted to do something to combat hunger locally and globally. He put together this evening at his critically acclaimed restaurant and donated all of the proceeds to be equally divided among Northern Illinois Food Bank and World Vision. Guests dined on Spanish cuisine, sampled over 40 different kinds of wine, and enjoyed traditional Flamenco entertainment while raising funds to help our hungry neighbors. Thank you to Mr. Jamali and the staff of Meson Sabika for helping raise over $11,000 to fight hunger!

Call the NIFB location nearest you to get involved!
St. Charles - 630.443.6910
Lake County Branch - 847.336.3663
Rockford Branch - 815.961.7283
Or email hunger@northernilfoodbank.org for more information today!
 

WELCOME ABOARD:
NIFB Welcomes Two New Board Members

Northern Illinois Food Bank recently welcomed two new members to the Board of Directors, Kara Boyd and Dr. Frank Pascoe, and strengthened its ability to feed hungry people.

Kara Boyd brings strong analytical skills and food industry knowledge to the Board. Starting in a Kraft Foods manufacturing plant in 1986, she is now the Director of Finance for Kraft, supporting over $20 billion in net revenues. On why she wanted to join the NIFB Board, Kara stated, “I have been blessed with a life of security, education, and opportunity and want to help others who deserve the same.”

Best known in the community for his research in jumping spiders, Dr. Frank Pascoe of Joliet is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Francis. A faculty member since 1982, he is a recipient of the university’s Achievement of Distinction and Outstanding and Commendable Achievement awards, and was named to the All-Professor Team for Chicago-land college professors by the Chicago Tribune. He continues a partnership between NIFB and the University for helping the less fortunate.