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January/February 2010 - Vol. 4, Issue 3 |
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 8,288 Number of hours volunteered during the month of December. |
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RESOLVE TO STAY INVOLVED IN 2010:
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USDA Report Sheds Light on Need: Household Food Security in the US, 2008
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It would be an understatement to say that 2009 brought many challenges with it as the economic crisis deepened to a level not seen in decades. The percent of people who became unemployed climbed to double digits, and the numbers of those seeking food assistance in northern Illinois increased by more than 35% in the last year. As these dire situations severely affected local families, many in the community stepped up to help in any way that they could.
Over the last year, more than 10,000 new donors
joined the Food Bank's efforts to feed the growing masses.
This additional help coupled with NIFB's existing supporters has
made it possible for more
Without the support of the community, the Food Bank could not reach the more than 50,000 people it does each week. In 2009, so many people stepped up to help our hungry neighbors. This continued support is desperately needed in the new year as well. Resolve to stay involved in 2010!
Click here to learn how to get involved!
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Biggest Losers Take on Hunger: Join the Pound for Pound Challenge!
Jerry and Estella Hayes are big
supporters of the Northern Illinois Food Bank; they’re just not as
big as they were a year ago. The Wheaton couple may be best
known for their participation in the seventh
Click here to take the Pound for Pound Challenge!
ROA Gets Into the Holiday Spirit: Holiday Party Helps Support Youth Program !
This support has allowed Northern Illinois Food Bank to grow its
after-school programs for low-income children
Generous Holiday Giving for Donors: Thank You For Making a Difference!
November and December traditionally are strong months for donations with the holiday spirit in full effect, and this holiday season proved no different. Even with people cutting back on spending due to the economy, more people than ever stepped to help those in need. Thank you to everyone who dug a little deeper to make sure that all of our neighbors could enjoy the holidays. Some highlights include:
Abbott Fund - $60,000 Community Memorial Foundation - $50,000 Topfer Family Foundation - $50,000 Will County Community Foundation - $42,000 Thing 1-2-3 Foundation - $30,000 Retirement Research Foundation - $15,000 Carquest Charitable Foundation - $14,000 Wells-Fargo - $13,000 Stahl Family Foundation - $11,500 Boeing Employees Community Fund - $10,000 Church of the Holy Spirit, Lake County - $10,000 Woodward Governor Company - $10,000
Call the NIFB location nearest you to get involved!
Northern Illinois Food Bank is a Member of:
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Tellabs Knocks Down Hunger:Cereal and Fund Drive Makes Impact!
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!
NIFB is Now on Facebook :Become a Friend of the Food Bank!
NIFB Employee of the Year :Congratulations, Hester!
 On
December 12th, Northern Illinois Food Bank staff celebrated its holiday
party with an evening of good food, games, and bowling. The
highlight of the evening was the presenting of the prestigious
"Employee of the Year" award. This year's winner was Hester Bury,
NIFB Grant's Manager! Since joining the Food Bank in February
2008, she has shown remarkable dedication and has achieved amazing
results. "Hester possesses such a positive attitude and believes
that nothing is impossible to achieve," said Sue Ericson, NIFB Director
of Development. "Her efforts have literally put food on the
tables of families who are struggling." Hester joins an elite
group of past winners, including Don Ford, Karen Lewandowski, and Amber
Wood.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. - Edith Lovejoy Pierce(1904 - ) |
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On
November 16th, the USDA released a report on food security in the US
to determine the percent of households that had "access at all times
to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household
members". The report paints a grim picture of how the economic
crisis has affected the lives of millions of Americans.
In 2008, 49.1 million (16.4%) Americans lived in food insecure
households compared to 36.2 million (12.2%) in 2007. Even
worse, 16.7 million (22.5%) children are living in food insecure
households compared to 12.4 million (16.9%) in 2007. These
numbers do not reflect the need in 2009, but as the economy worsened
last year, the need most certainly increase.
than 18 million pounds of food to be
delivered to hungry neighbors in just the last 6 months alone, a 30%
increase over the same period last year. "Some could say that
we have been blessed in 2009, and I would not disagree; however, I
suspect every one of us would prefer not to have been part of the
dramatic growth we witnessed in the past 12 months," said Dennis
Smith, NIFB President & CEO. Even with the extra support, a gap
remains between those who are receiving help and those who still
need it, and this increased need will likely continue through much
of 2010.
season
of NBC’s hit “The Biggest Loser”. They were the oldest contestants
ever and Jerry won the $100,000 at home prize for losing the largest
percentage of weight. Now they’re using
that notoriety to help feed hungry people in northern
Illinois. "It is nice to be asked to participate in this event
to make our New Years resolution of paying it forward. To encourage
all people pledging to lose weight, you can make a difference for
someone else without spending a dime," said Jerry and Estella.
In
a holiday tradition that began in 2004, Rockford Orthopedic
Associates (ROA) held its annual holiday party on December 4th to
raise funds for the Food Bank's Youth Nutrition Program.
Doctors, staff, and suppliers came together for a wonderful evening
and to spread some holiday cheer. Their efforts raised nearly
$30,000 in one evening to bring the total over the last six years to
$142,000.
in
the Rockford area. Currently, more than 1,132 kids in the
Rockford area are fed each day in these programs. "The support
from Rockford Orthopedic Associates has made a tremendous difference
in our ability to serve more kids," said Andrea Lutz, Manager
of NIFB Youth
Nutrition Programs. "It is critical that we provide healthy
foods for children in need so that they can fully benefit from
educational and physical enrichment activities during the after school hours." Thank
you, ROA, for your dedicated support!
Friday
November 20th, 300 Tellabs employees joined Northern Illinois Food
Bank (NIFB) in an effort to fight local hunger. Employees designed a
domino display using nearly 2,000 boxes of cereal in their
Naperville office atrium. The event was part of Tellabs Giving, a
global employee campaign to give back to the community. 
