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January/February 2009 - Vol. 3, Issue 3 |
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 2,500,000 Number of Jobs Lost in 2008 - the most since 1945 |
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BACKPACKS CONTAIN MORE THAN
BOOKS:
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Making a Difference in Our Future: Funding Makes Backpack Program Possible!
Starting a new program at the Food Bank takes careful planning and focused determination to ensure success. After identifying a need among children to provide food for them on the weekends, the Northern Illinois Food Bank put together an operational plan for the Backpack Program that would make it effective and cost-efficient without upsetting daily food distribution. Of course, executing the Backpack Program would incur additional cost to the Food Bank so supplemental funding needed to be found. Thankfully, corporations and organizations from around northern Illinois stepped up to make the program possible. Thank you to the following funding sources: Will County Community Foundation, Kraft Employees Fund, Foster's Wine Estates, Abbott Fund, Elgin Township, DeKalb Community Foundation, Unilver, Wal-Mart, Freeport Community Foundation, Lazzarra Foundation, and EFS Foundation.
Call the NIFB location nearest you to get involved! |
The school bell rings on Monday morning signaling that classes are about to begin. As one 5th grade student takes his seat, his stomach begins to growl; there wasn't much to eat at home over the weekend. The teacher begins the lesson but he has a hard time paying attention. His grades are already suffering but, hopefully, he will not fall too far behind again. This scenario plays out in
many classrooms throughout our communities. The Food Bank
operates an After-School Nutrition Program to feed
In addition to the teachers, the families of the children are truly grateful for this program. It helps not only the child but the whole family. One mother said, "My husband lost his job and we lost our home in foreclosure. I’m the only one working and getting this food helped us so much on our grocery bill. Public Aid wouldn’t help us. Thank you with all my heart for all you gave us." Currently, more than 860 children participate in the Backpack Program each weekend. Northern Illinois Food Bank makes feeding children a priority in its everyday operations because we know how important it is to create a healthy tomorrow. Click here to learn more about the
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Wal-Mart Helps Fight Hunger:
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NFL
Mom Tackles Hunger:
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low-income
children when school lets out each day, but on the weekends, these
kids have little to rely on for food. To combat these dire
situations, Northern Illinois Food Bank implemented the Backpack
Program in January 2008. Through this program, children
identified by school officials as low-income are given a food-filled
backpack each Friday. In each backpack is enough food to feed
3 people, 3 meals a day for the weekend. When these kids come
into school on Monday, they turn in the empty backpack and are much
more focused. One teacher said, "I have four kids in my class
and they have all shown improvement in their grades."
In
response to a sharp statewide increase in the need for food and
groceries in Illinois food banks, the
of
food statewide. It will also help build capacity in food purchasing,
coordinating statewide food donations and executing state-wide
programs. “We understand that many communities are facing
larger hunger issues this time of year and families are looking for
extra help from their local food banks,” said Michael Lewis,
President for the Midwest Division, Wal-Mart Stores. “We are happy
to continue our role as good corporate citizens and help our
partners at Feeding Illinois feed families in need.” Thank
you, Wal-Mart, for your dedicated support!
Kane
County employees joined together for the second year in a row to raise
food and funds to benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank. The
response from Kane County employees was overwhelming with more than
3,750 pounds of food and $12,659 donated to help feed hungry
neighbors.
On
February 3rd, Northern Illinois Food Bank will be holding a
fundraising event at
Hunger
is an everyday issue here in Illinois. One local woman is doing her
best to make an impact. Dr. Alicia McCareins is the mother of NFL
Tennessee Titans player Justin McCareins, and she participated in
the “NFL Moms Tackling Hunger with Campbell's Chunky Soup” food
collection effort. Dr. McCareins competed with 33 other NFL
moms around the county for the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl.
The top 3 moms who collected the most food would win.
For
the fifth consecutive year, employees of
ROA
presented the check to NIFB at Washington Park Community Center, one
of NIFB's youth feeding sites. Said Lynne Pratt, Marketing
Director of ROA, “We have a very strong commitment among our
physicians and staff to support the Northern Illinois Food Bank
youth services in our community and personally challenge ourselves
to exceed the prior year’s total. This year we exceeded even our own
expectations!” Thank you, ROA!
Said
H. Dennis Smith, Executive Director and CEO, “We cannot thank Tyson
Foods enough for this very special gift. Northern Illinois Food Bank
is honored to receive this donation in AnaRose’s name.”
AnaRose began fighting hunger two years ago at the age of 10.
Instead of a birthday party, AnaRose decided she wanted to host a