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Member food banks in America's Second Harvest. Food banks serve virtually every county in the US.

SHARING THE BREAD:
Interfaith Services Highlight Hunger Awareness Day

Hunger Helpers:
Donate at Your Area Supermarket on June 1-2

For too many people, hunger knows no bounds.  Hunger does not discriminate between Christians or Muslims, or between Jews and Hindus, or between Buddhists and the Baha'i.  Unfortunately, we are all susceptible to the pangs of hunger.  Leaders within the faith community realize this fact and are coming together for Hunger Awareness Day to show their support in the fight against hunger.

Leaders of faith are on the front lines of fighting hunger and recognize that feeding hungry people is not just a Christian cause, or a Jewish cause, or a Muslim cause; feeding the hungry is a human cause.  Northern Illinois Food Bank, along with faith leaders throughout the community, will join together on June 1st in Rockford, June 3rd in Joliet, and June 5th in Freeport for Interfaith Services to highlight the hunger epidemic in northern Illinois. Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen said, "Those who are hungry are forced to make choices everyday between food and basic necessities ... This (interfaith) service is an important stepping stone to creating community awareness and encouraging advocacy to eliminate hunger ..."  Chairman Christiansen recognizes that uniting faith leaders representing multiple religions in one voice can create a movement.

Please join NIFB and community faith leaders for these enlightening services of "Sharing the Bread".  You will have the opportunity to listen to readings representing a variety of religious faiths, join in music and dance, and witness the Presentation of Bread to symbolize the coming together of the world's religions in the fight against hunger.  Click here for more information on the three Interfaith Services or call 630.443.6910.

Hunger Awareness Day Promos:
Bag Hunger, Skip Lunch Fridays, & Dine Out to Fight Hunger

Throughout the month of June, you will be able to show your community that you support the fight against hunger.  Go to any of the participating banks, credit unions, and retail establishments and, for just one dollar, you get a pledge card (right) to be signed by you.  Pledge cards will then be hung throughout these businesses to show the community that you helped Bag Hunger.  Help us fill their entire lobbies by donating multiple times.  Every dollar counts!  With that dollar, NIFB can provide 9 pounds of food to our hungry neighbors, so just imagine what an impact you can make.  Give well and give often!  Click here for participating locations.

NIFB is looking for area businesses and organizations to commit to a Friday of your choice in the month of June to Skip Lunch and donate $5 for the cost of the lunch to NIFB.  Employees can even skip lunch in spirit and still donate $5 to help fight hunger.  Encourage your company to get involved in this feed a neighbor challenge and put a smile on your lunch box by saving it for another day.  Call 630.443.6910 today to get your company involved!

The community is encouraged to dine out at participating Panera Bread locations in NIFB's service area on June 5th.  Panera Bread will generously donate a percentage of total sales to help fight hunger.  Supporting hungry neighbors has never been easier or more rewarding.  Not only do you get a delicious lunch at Panera, but part of your sale helps feed hungry people.  Visit NIFB's website for participating locations.

SPECIAL QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"The Face of Hunger"

The face of hunger has many disguises

Such as families of various sizes,

Homeless people living on the street,

And everyday neighbors that you may meet.

Children at school; children at play

Who go hungry day after day.

Parents, teens and babies too,

Also need food from me and you.

Isn't is great that there is a day,

That helps these people in some way?

So pull out some of your extra pay

And give a donation for Hunger Awareness Day.

- AnaRose Hebein, 11 years old

The Face of Hunger Will Surprise You:
HAD Events Emphasize Issues of Hunger

Celebrating Community Nutrition - June 5th, 8:00 am. 

NIFB and Kraft Foods in Lake County are hosting a breakfast to mark the 10th anniversary of Kraft's involvement in community nutrition. Area leaders will come together to celebrate Kraft and its partners in feeding more people. The breakfast will be held at 560 Old Skokie Road, Unit A, Park City, IL 60073. RSVP's required. For more details or to RSVP, call the Lake County Branch at 847.336.3663, x. 12.

Hunger Symposiums:  The Face of Hunger Will Surprise You - June 5th.

On June 5th, NIFB & The People's Resource Center, in conjunction with the DuPage Hunger Network, will stage a dramatization of hunger need in DuPage County and show steps being taken to meet that need. Lunch is being provided, immediately following the program. This event is FREE and open to the public. The symposium is being held at Benedictine University's Krasa Center at 5700 College Ave. in Lisle at 11:00am.  To RSVP, call 630.443.6910.

Also on June 5th, NIFB, in cooperation with its Kankakee County agency partners, will commemorate Hunger Awareness Day through a portrayal of “The Face of Hunger Will Surprise You”. At this Hunger Awareness Day observation, attendees can meet and talk with representatives from food assistance agencies in Kankakee County that are providing food to more than 12,402 hungry neighbors.  Refreshments will be provided.  This event will be taking place at Olivet Nazarene University - Weber Center at One University Drive in Bourbonnais at 3:00pm. To RSVP, call 630.443.6910.

Contact Your Representative!