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National Anti-Hunger
Organizations (NAHO) release statement on 2007 Farm Bill.
With the new year just starting, our
110th
US Congress will be busy
debating new legislation and passing bills that effect all of
us, especially our hungry neighbors. Most significantly,
funding for the Farm Bill will be reexamined. Since funding
for federal food assistance programs, such as the Food Stamp Program
and the School Lunch Program, fall under the Farm Bill, this is of
particular importance to hungry people. NAHO has released a
statement highlighting the most important changes that need to be
made to ensure no American goes hungry, and
it encourages all US
citizens to contact their representatives to tell them how important
the Farm Bill is to all of us. With 1 in 5 Americans participating in
these food assistance programs each year, proper funding for the
2007 Farm Bill becomes even more apparent.
To read the full NAHO statement, click here.
On Saturday, February 3,
NIFB will be participating in this national grassroots movement and
we need your help! Join us for this football themed event and
help NIFB tackle hunger in your community. NIFB has a goal to
collect 5,450 pounds of canned goods, specifically soup, and to get
100 volunteers (max.) at the St. Charles facility to help process donated
items. NIFB encourages people to host a food drive during the
week of January 29th then bring in the items on Saturday between
8:30 am and noon. To volunteer on February 3rd, contact Loreal
Sanders by January 31st at (630) 443-6910.
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In the
previous issue of HungerBytes, NIFB
told you about its involvement in the innovative Express Stamps
program where volunteers stationed at area food pantries can
electronically sign-up people to immediately receive Food Stamp
benefits (click
here to read the article). As the only food bank in America
participating in this program, NIFB is getting more food into the
hands of more people. But what does this really mean? Careful
examination of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) has shown benefits above
and beyond receiving food.
A recent study
by the University of Chicago under a research grant from the
Economic Research Service found a relationship between Food Stamp
participation and lower diagnosis of several nutrition related
health problems in children. While this relationship may seem quite
obvious, the study discovered another finding that was not so
apparent: participation in the FSP resulted in lower levels of
child abuse and neglect. With more food in the household, levels of
stress among family members were greatly reduced, thereby bringing
instances of abuse down. These findings are even more important
when we see that more than 80% of Food Stamp benefits go to families
with children.
A direct correlation between
 Food
Stamps and economic growth is another benefit often cited.
More Food Stamps in the community translates into higher dividends
for consumers, food producers and manufacturers, and grocery
retailers, thereby stimulating job growth.
The importance
of the FSP and NIFB’s efforts with Express Stamps becomes more and
more evident with each new study. Through the Express Stamps
program, NIFB has signed up over 200 households to receive Food Stamps
and reap these benefits. NIFB is working to not only provide food to hungry
people but to make northern Illinois a better place to live for
everyone.
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Holiday Train 2006:
Hunger Awareness & So Much MORE!
What do Canadian Pacific Railway, Lake County Queens,
generous donors, and hunger awareness have in common? Why its the
Canadian Pacific's 5th Annual Holiday Train in Gurnee! The 2006
Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train visit to Viking Park in
Gurnee was once again sponsored by the Lake County Chamber of
Commerce with its Gurnee, Hispanic, and Waukegan affiliate chambers during mid-December
2006. This proved to be the most successful visit in its history!
The weather was perfect – no snow or rain - no zero degree
temperatures! More than 800 onlookers enjoyed live musical
entertainment, food, and fun! Santa made a visit too!
Hunger awareness was key to the event. Over $22,000 was
raised to support NIFB's efforts
to fight hunger throughout northern
Illinois! Generous donors included the Canadian Pacific Railway,
Employees of Cardinal Health, Takeda Pharmaceuticals NA, and Vista
Health System. The Holiday Train audience also was very generous in
making financial and food donations throughout the evening. The Lake
County Queens big-heartedly shared their time by challenging their
perspective communities to come out and make donations.
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce's team is very passionate about
the Holiday Train and feeding hungry people. All of the event
operations, logistical, and sourcing of local food vendors and
entertainment were taken care of by this dedicated group!
Local
singers, entertainers, speakers, and dignitaries also contributed time,
funds and food to help NIFB fight hunger in
Lake County.
Click here for more photos of the 2006 event.
“The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train has become a regular part of
Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Christmas tradition in Lake County.
The bright lights, holiday sounds and
 entertainment always raise the
spirits of both the young and not so young folks who turn out to see
this special vehicle of goodwill,” commented H. Dennis Smith,
NIFB Executive Director and CEO. “We are
grateful to the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Lake County Chamber of
Commerce, and all of the other local sponsors for their generosity
in providing hope to families in need. It is great to see the
community come together for such a special treat and cause.”
A special promotion sponsored by the Lake County New-Sun and four
participating auto dealers brought new excitement to the event. Ten
weekly qualifiers from the September-November promotion each drew a
key – the one that started the car won. The winner may choose a car
from any of the participating dealers valued up to $25,000.
Click here to learn more about the Canadian Pacific's Holiday Train.
Office Depot in Round Lake Beach:
Ribbon
Cutting Helps Fight Hunger
Office Depot
hosted a ribbon cutting celebration at its new store in Round Lake
Beach.
 During
this ceremony, Office Depot made
$500
contributions to
Northern
Illinois Food Bank and two other non-profit organizations.
“Office Depot is
strongly committed to enhancing the quality of life in the
communities in which we conduct business,” said John Soss, Manager
of the new Office Depot store. “We are excited to open our first
store in Round Lake Beach and very pleased that we can assist these
critically important non-profit organizations in their efforts to
make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families
in this area.”
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
Email
hunger@northernilfoodbank.org
today!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
The full extent of the problem of hunger is not
obvious to most of us. We see the homeless, but there are a
great number of working poor, struggling to survive, who don't have
enough money to put adequate food on the table. We must find a
solution to this ever-increasing problem - and quickly.
- Scott Glenn |
No
Scrooges Here!
Donors Join in the Fight against
Hunger
Charles Dickens'
Scrooge (A Christmas Carol) certainly isn't found here!
Several NIFB supporters provided more than just a ray of hope for
the future. Their generosity during this holiday season will
ensure our hungry neighbors are being helped. Woodward Governor
Company employees &
Rockford Orthopedic Associates dug deep into their pockets to find a
way to help NIFB fight hunger.
Woodward and its employees again bestowed altruism upon our community. Woodward set out for its annual food fight
competition to raise funds to support the fight against hunger
- one week and one week only - the week before Christmas.
Under a Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol themed
competition, employees rallied together in a friendly internal
competition to see which department could raise the most money for
the cause. From
lollipop trees, passing envelopes, chili dog sales, taco sales,
raffles, guessing jars, and much
more, the team at Woodward had fun raising hunger
awareness and funds to support this
fight. The team collected over $7,000 during the one week period.
Some creative staffers started "Beggar
Days" -
which proved very successful. Other staff members realized a
connection with fundraising and food - chili dog days, taco days,
bake sales, and more! The Rockton plant employees saw this as a good
reason to hold a few bake sales earlier in the year -
collecting more than $550!
The Woodward Governor Cmpany Charitable Trust
also provided $10,000 in the fight. Thanks to Woodward, the food
drive committee members, and management for supporting the cause
and providing hope! This funding will again go to support NIFB's
efforts in the fight against hunger - especially the Mobile Pantry
Program.
"I have been
fortunate enough to experience the Mobile Food Pantry myself [as a
volunteer]. I can say, with confidence, that [NIFB's] Mobile Food
Pantry is making an immediate impact on the community," commented
Mike Rehnberg, Woodward System Engineer and Volunteer Annual Food
Drive Coordinator. "It even makes an impact on the volunteers who
staff the Mobile Food Pantry – a staff that now includes Woodward
employees, spouses, children, and even Girl Scout troops. The
recipients of this food are always gracious and really not unlike
you or me. To quote Dennis Smith, Executive Director of the
Food Bank, 'If not for the grace of God, it could
just as easily be you or me on the other side of the table'."
Physicians and
employees of Rockford Orthopedic Associates (ROA), once again came
together to raise funds in support of NIFB and its Rockfor d
branch, the local food bank serving pantries, soup kitchens,
shelters, and other nonprofit food assistance sites in northern
Illinois. The $14,000+ donation to help support NIFB's Youth
Nutrition Programs was presented to NIFB at ROA’s annual holiday
party in early December 2006.
Thanks to ROA for the kind, dedicated, support in the fight against
hunger!
“ROA physicians and staff care. We are deeply concerned for the
needs of the less fortunate in our own community,” said Dr. Brian
Bear, CEO of ROA. “We are happy to be able to support the NIFB’s
efforts to provide nutritious food to children and others in the
greater Rockford area.”
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!
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WELCOME ABOARD:
NIFB Welcomes Three New Board Members!
Northern
Illinois Food Bank recently welcomed three new members to the Board
of Directors: Gordon Hahn, Peter Schaefer, and Howard Wurster. Each
brings passion and dedication to feed hungry people in our
community. NIFB is proud to have them in its family.
Gordon Hahn is
the Operating Partner for Chicago Bread, LLC, which operates area
Panera restaurants. Gordon and Panera have been long-time
supporters of NIFB and ending hunger in northern Illinois. In
addition to donating food and funds to NIFB, Gordon and Panera
employees regularly volunteer at the Food Bank sorting and packaging
food for distribution.
As the
Corporate Vice President of McDonald’s Corp., Peter Schaefer brings
a breadth of knowledge and leadership to NIFB. Peter formerly
served on the Board for the Greater Chicago Food Depository but
decided, after moving to the suburbs, that he wanted to do more in his
immediate community. NIFB became a perfect choice for Peter and his
involvement.
Howard Wurster
is the Operations Quality Manager for ConAgra Foods and has long
supported NIFB. On the national level, ConAgra teamed up with
America’s Second Harvest through the Feeding Children Better
Foundation so that no child in America will go hungry. Howard
brings this same passion to NIFB with his efforts to secure more food and
funds to feed hungry people.
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