Greater Chicago Food Depository

"They have so many issues they're dealing with, but seeing us in person, hearing what's happening from the people that see what's within the communities, that puts these issues to the front of their minds." -Laverne Horgan, coordinator of Church of the Holy Spirt Food Pantry In the past two months, two groups of Food Depository advocates traveled to Springfield and Washington D.C. to lobby for food equity. They met with different legislators to share impactful stories of hunger in our communities, discuss the importance of federal nutrition programs and ensure proper funding for the Farm to Food Bank and Breakfast After the Bell initiatives. Thanks to our advocates' collective efforts, the IL General Assembly funded both programs at our requested amounts of $2.5 million and $300,000. Not only that, but government officials serving Cook County were eager to learn how they can help #EndHungerNow. To read more about our advocates and their lobbying efforts, visit https://bit.ly/4cLtfQ8.

On the Fourth of July, the Food Depository would like to express its gratitude to the servicemen and servicewomen for their service. In observance of the holiday, the Food Depository will be closed and will reopen on July 5th.

The Food Depository is deeply saddened by the passing of Ann Lurie. We are forever grateful for her support of our mission and her dedication to our city. Read more in our statement. https://bit.ly/4ePUWJp

Last month, Food Depository volunteers came together for the annual National Restaurant Association Show! They worked in small teams to collect food donations from various booths. Thanks to their efforts, the Food Depository was able to rescue a grand total of 36,381 pounds of food! We are grateful for their support and can't wait for next year's event!

This month, 42 runners ran the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 to take hunger off the table for our community. Thanks to their fundraising efforts, we were able to beat our 13.1 fundraising record with more than $24,600 raised to #EndHungerNow! We are grateful for their support and would like to congratulate them on completing the half marathon!

Today is #Juneteenth. The holiday’s origin story begins in Galveston, Texas where enslaved Black people were told of their emancipation (and their subsequent freedom from chattel slavery) on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The Food Depository recognizes that our mission of ending hunger is only possible through the dismantling of the root causes of food insecurity (systemic racism and structural inequity) in our communities. Juneteenth is a day to reflect on the progress that has been made, but also to acknowledge the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality.

“We are honored by this award, and we are proud to support the root cause work spearheaded by a community organization right in our own backyard.” -Ana Padilla, manager of Community Engagement This month, the Food Depository was honored by the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) at their annual Parent Mentor Luncheon! Jazmin Cerda, a parent organizer with the BPNC, presented a certificate of appreciation for our support of the Parent Mentor and Ladders of Opportunity programs. These programs help strengthen relationships between parents, students and teachers within local schools and offer participants development opportunities to advance their educational and career goals. The Food Depository is honored by this award and is proud to work alongside organizations who are committed to ending hunger and its root causes.

To the fathers, grandfathers, fathers-to-be, foster dads, LGBTQIA+ parents and those who have passed, happy #FathersDay! Today, we celebrate all father figures who work to provide nourishing food for their families and community. Thank you for everything you do and for helping us #EndHungerNow.

Congratulations to three of our partners for being named as one of 2024's Leaders for a New Chicago! We're honored to work alongside Alia J. Bilal of Inner-city Muslim Action Network, Malcolm Evans of Urban Growers Collective, and Nedra Sims Fears of Greater Chatham Initiative. Thank you for all you do for our neighbors and our city. Congratulations to all of the awardees! https://lnkd.in/eEPD7JiR

"What we try to do is welcome every single person with dignity and compassion. No matter who you are, first question is: "What do you need to eat?"" In honor of Pride Month, Feeding America's CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot sat down with Gregory Gross, the Executive Director of Care for Real, to talk about how he and his team create safe and welcoming spaces for neighbors seeking support. This includes providing training to staff and volunteers around gender and being inclusive of pronouns. We are extremely grateful to be working alongside such amazing partners who are committed to ending hunger in Chicago and Cook County. To hear more about Gregory's work, visit https://bit.ly/45sJH59. #EndHungerNow