Announcing Feeding Hunger: Chicago
Photo by chispita_666
At Menuism, almost every thought we have revolves around food. No big surprise there. But earlier this year, we made a commitment to focus on food in a different way: by supporting hunger eradication efforts in our local communities. So today, we’re thrilled to announce Feeding Hunger: Chicago, Menuism’s partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Working with an impressive network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, Chicago’s food bank serves 678,000 people in Cook County every year. Last year alone, the Food Depository distributed 66 million pounds of food—the equivalent of 135,000 meals every day.
Supporting Healthy Kids & Seniors
Collecting and distributing food is only one way that the Food Depository supports the great community of Chicago. Through its many programs and services, the food bank not only addresses the immediate needs of the people it serves, but the root causes of hunger as well.
In partnership with Chicago Public Schools, Greater Chicago Food Depository administers several programs that benefit kids’ nutrition, like Nourish for Knowledge, which provides take-home bags of healthy food (including fresh produce) for kids in low-income neighborhoods. Lunch Bus, a mobile meal program, helps ensure that kids get nutritious food even when school’s not in session, like during the summer months. On a daily basis, there are more than 60 Kids Cafés that operate across metropolitan Chicago, serving up healthy meals to more than 3,000 children every day, along with nutrition education, mentoring and homework assistance. Pretty neat, right? We think so!
Older Chicagoans also depend on programs run by the Food Depository. Through Healthy Helpings, the food bank delivers fresh, healthy meals to low-income senior housing. Ingredients for Independence, a food box program for seniors, delivers 4,000 boxes of boxes straight to seniors at 49 low-income housing sites.
4 Facts About the Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Last year, the Food Depository distributed more than 6.5 million pounds of food by collecting surplus food from local grocery stores.
- The Food Depository distributes food to 20 neighborhood sites where the need is greatest, and on nights and weekends, when other food assistance usually isn’t available.
- The Food Depository’s Producemobiles, or “farmers’ markets on wheels,” deliver fresh produce to 40 locations in low-income areas every month.
- Nearly 40 percent of the people served by the Food Depository are children younger than 18.
Help Menuism Help Hungry Chicagoans
Menuism is committed to helping the Greater Chicago Food Depository reach its goal of stamping out hunger in Chicagoland. Want to help? It’s easy: just “like” Menuism on Facebook and we’ll donate $1 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. And please help us spread the word!
We thank you for your continued support!
Happy Eating,
The Menuism Team
P.S. Learn more about our Feeding Hunger initiatives here.
