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March/April 2010 - Vol. 4, Issue 4 |
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 502,400 Number of different people served annually by Northern Illinois Food Bank according to Hunger In America 2010. |
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HUNGER IN AMERICA 2010:
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Stats of the Hunger Study: Study Details NIFB's Work on the Ground
Click here to read the full report! |
Click here to learn how to get involved at NIFB!
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NIFB on The Biggest Loser: Watch NIFB and Join the Challenge!
There is still time to take the Pound for Pound Challenge, too! For every pound that you pledge to lose, General Mills will donate $0.14 to Feeding America with most of that being passed down to the local food bank. Currently, Northern Illinois Food Bank is in 6th place for the most pounds pledged. We need your help to move up in the rankings so go to pfpchallenge.com and make your pledge today!
Click here to take the Pound for Pound Challenge!
Kids Cookbook a Success: Over$20,000 Raised for Youth Programs!
“We loved the idea of the cookbook, but we really grabbed on to the
idea of getting kids involved. The fact that they raised over
$20,000 to feed children in need is truly remarkable and just
shows that anyone can make a difference, regardless of age,” said
Jarrod Daab, NIFB Associate Director of Development.
"It has been such a journey taking Carson's idea to fruition. A huge
thanks needs to be made to all those
Thanks
Carson and Alyssa!
$100,000 Donors Make Difference: Blue Cross Blue Shield and Grainger Step Up!
Fighting childhood hunger is a central part of the Food Bank's programs, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois has joined NIFB's efforts to make a difference. In February, the foundation made a donation of $100,000 to the Youth Nutrition Program. This multi-faceted approach to feeding kids reaches more than 3,000 children each day throughout the year.
The Grainger Foundation has become a critical supporter of Northern Illinois Food Bank over the last year, and they proved once again their commitment to feeding the hungry. Their recent donation of $100,000 will support the Food Bank's distribution program and will also support NIFB's capital campaign for a new facility. Grainger not only understands the importance of feeding our hungry neighbors now but also the importance of investing in the future of the Food Bank.
Thank you Blue Cross Blue Shield and Grainger!
Northern Illinois Food Bank is a Member of:
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Check Off for Hunger Relief:Illinois Tax Check Off Benefits Food Banks!
By checking off “Hunger Relief” listed in Schedule G and entering
your contribution amount on Line i, your donation will benefit
Feeding
Illinois, a coalition of the eight Feeding America food
banks covering the entire state of Illinois, including the Northern
Illinois Food Bank. “We are committed to finding innovative
ways to help people in need,” said H. Dennis Smith, NIFB President
and CEO. “This is another way for the people in our communities to
help those who are truly suffering in these challenging economic
times,” Smith added.
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!
Strike Out Hunger is Back: Get Your Bowling Team Together Now!
Click here to learn about the tournament!
NIFB is Now on Facebook :Become a Friend of the Food Bank!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he
could only do a little. - Edmund Burke(1729 - 1797)
Call the NIFB location nearest you to get involved! |
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Every
four years, the Feeding America national office conducts a study on
the state of hunger in the United States with the support of food
bank's across the country. Nationally, the found that 37
million Americans, or 1 in 8 people, sought emergency food
assistance last year. Locally, the figures are just as
daunting. The study highlighted some specific points for
northern Illinois:
The
Hunger in America 2010 study, conducted nationally by Feeding
America and supported locally by Northern Illinois Food Bank,
reports that more than 61,500 different people each week are
receiving food assistance in NIFB’s 13 county service area. This is
an increase of 65% over the last Hunger Study published in 2006,
which reported that NIFB was helping 37,000-plus different people
each week. 
the
same population’s poverty has soared 48 percent. There are now
269,280 people who live in poverty (family of four living on $22,050
a year) in NIFB’s service area including nearly 96,000 children.
“The root cause of hunger is often poverty or lack of sufficient
income, and the suburbs are not immune to this phenomenon,” said H.
Dennis Smith, President of NIFB. “When budgets are tight, people
have to make choices between living essentials like medicine,
housing, clothing, heat or food. More people are coming to us for
food than ever before and this Hunger Study helps illustrate that
fact. I hope we can continue to grow since I don’t see an end to our
challenge. It is very clear that the work of Northern Illinois Food
Bank is more important than ever.”
If
you are a fan of The Biggest Loser then you probably saw
Northern Illinois Food Bank featured on the March 2nd episode with
challenge champions and Season 7 contestants, Jerry and Estella
Hayes. But don't worry if you missed it because you can view
the
On
January 26, more than a year of hard work by six year old Carson
Pazdan culminated with a giant check presentation to the Northern
Illinois Food Bank. The presentation was held at Countryside
Elementary School in Barrington Hills. Pazdan is the brainchild of
the Kids Feeding Kids Cookbook, which includes recipes from roughly
800 area children as well as celebrities including Oprah, Maria
Shriver and Sean Hayes. All proceeds from book sales will support
the Food bank's
who
have rallied together with their enthusiastic support and
involvement to make this cookbook a reality. Kudos to all of the
parents who have embraced this opportunity to get their kids
involved to show them that they truly can make a difference in the
world regardless of their young age," says Alyssa Pazdan. Carson and
his mom plan to continue their efforts to feed area children.
This
tax season you can give back while completing your income tax form
by donating to hunger relief efforts across Illinois. A new tax
check-off program, approved last spring by the Illinois General
Assembly makes it easier than ever to donate at a time of
unprecedented demand for emergency food. The entire check-off amount
you donate will directly support feeding programs across Illinois.
The
second annual Strike Out Hunger Bowling Tournament is right
around the corner so it's time to get your teams together!
Spanning six communities across northern Illinois
in May and June, there is a strong likelihood an event
is taking place near you. For $300, your team of five bowlers
will receive 3 games, shoes, and pizza and soda for the evening.
AND, you will be competing for the coveted Hunger Cup! The top
three teams from each qualifying round will advance to the
championship event where local sports celebrities will be featured!
Last
year, 87 teams bowled their hearts out to advance to the
championship and win the Hunger Cup. Former Bears players
James "Big Cat" Williams, Glen Kozlowski, Otis Wilson, and Jim
Morrissey were at the championship to support the event. In
the end, ACOSTA Sales & Marketing was the first
team to have their names etched into the Hunger Cup. Who will
take the grand prize this year?
