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Have you ever been in a grocery store and looked at a package nearing the sell-by date? Ever wonder what happens to that product if no one purchases it? Through Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Food Recovery Program, 12.5 million pounds of fresh produce, meat, and dry and canned goods were saved from a landfill in FY12 and provided nourishment for our hungry neighbors. Started in 2000 in partnership with Jewel-Osco, Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Food Recovery program has grown to include more than 180 local retailers. Lead donors for FY12 are Jewel-Osco and Wal-Mart, who donated 7.6 million and 3.2 million pounds respectively to the Food Recovery Program. Other participating retailers include: Costco, Cub, Food 4 Less, Hilander, Kroger, Mariano’s Fresh Market, Meijer, Sam’s Club and Target.
Mobile pantries deliver directly to neighbors in need In addition to providing food through a network of 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and youth and senior centers, Northern Illinois Food Bank has a number of other programs to assist hungry neighbors.
Families like Nicky’s. Nicky lost her job as a junior high school cook when an accident required her to have surgery. Unable to support herself and her two children, she turned to local pantries and the food bank’s mobile pantry. While Nicky has again found employment, her paycheck doesn’t cover all her expenses, so she continues to visit the mobile pantry to ensure her family has enough to eat. And, grateful for the help she has received, Nicky volunteers at the pantries that have helped her. To learn more about Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry, visit www.SolveHungerToday.org.
• Wednesday, September 5, 2012
One of those programs is the Mobile Pantry. Two refrigerated trucks filled with thousands of pounds of fresh produce, frozen meat and dry goods made 371 visits last year to high-need communities. Set-up much like a farmers’ market where neighbors in need can choose the food that meets their palate and dietary preferences, the mobile pantries provide food to up to 300 families per visit.
Northern Illinois Food Bank - Hunger Action Month | Kane County Chronicle / KCChronicle.com
Retail donations help our hungry neighbors