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About 10 percent of Illinois residents received emergency food from the state last year, according to a study released last week by Feeding Illinois, a statewide organization representing the eight regional food banks.
The rough economy has had a similar effect across the country. According to a February study titled “Hunger in America 2010,” Feeding America provides food for 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children. This represents an increase of 46 percent from 2006, when the group fed 25 million Americans, including 9 million children, each year.
“It’s an enormous increase in the number of people,” Northern Illinois Food Bank CEO and President H. Dennis Smith said. “Thankfully, in the counties we serve, there’s a heightened sense of awareness which has caused more people to say ‘Hey, I’m willing to help.’ That help has come in the form of a lot of volunteers, which certainly has been wonderful.”
1 Northern Illinois numbers
Each year, the Northern Illinois Food Bank receives more than 60,000 hours from volunteers who help distribute 27 million pounds of food. The St. Charles-based nonprofit was not immune to the economic hit other food banks have seen. Local results from the hunger study revealed the organization now provides food for an estimated 502,400 people annually, which is a 168 percent increase from 2006. The study shows 61,600 people receive assistance on any given week, a 65 percent increase from 2006. The study also offered a population comparison, which showed the population NIFB serves rising 15.3 percent, while the poverty level increases 42 percent.
2 a proposal for help
Feeding Illinois called for the General Assembly of Illinois to approve $5 million in funding to local food banks, which they say would provide an additional 10 million pounds of food to keep up with the growing hunger problem. “The food banks in this state — the food pantries and soup kitchens that they serve — are desperate for this,” Feeding Illinois President Kate Maehr said. “As I’ve said, I’ve yet to meet anyone in Springfield or in any county in the state who believe that it’s OK for people in the state to go hungry, and that is what we are talking about.” Maehr said food banks in Illinois need the money “so we can make sure that when a family or an individual turns up at a food pantry there is food.”
3 keeping pace
Northern Illinois Food Bank President and CEO H. Dennis Smith said if the funding doesn’t come through, his nonprofit will see a shortfall. “We do the best we can in getting donated food generated through working harder and having more trucks on the road to go pick it up,” Smith said. “But if we don’t get that funding, we will be short of where we need to be.”
About 10 percent of Illinois residents received emergency food from the state last year, according to a study released last week by Feeding Illinois, a statewide organization representing the eight regional food banks.
The rough economy has had a similar effect across the country. According to a February study titled “Hunger in America 2010,” Feeding America provides food for 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children. This represents an increase of 46 percent from 2006, when the group fed 25 million Americans, including 9 million children, each year.
“It’s an enormous increase in the number of people,” Northern Illinois Food Bank CEO and President H. Dennis Smith said. “Thankfully, in the counties we serve, there’s a heightened sense of awareness which has caused more people to say ‘Hey, I’m willing to help.’ That help has come in the form of a lot of volunteers, which certainly has been wonderful.”
1 Northern Illinois numbers
Each year, the Northern Illinois Food Bank receives more than 60,000 hours from volunteers who help distribute 27 million pounds of food. The St. Charles-based nonprofit was not immune to the economic hit other food banks have seen. Local results from the hunger study revealed the organization now provides food for an estimated 502,400 people annually, which is a 168 percent increase from 2006. The study shows 61,600 people receive assistance on any given week, a 65 percent increase from 2006. The study also offered a population comparison, which showed the population NIFB serves rising 15.3 percent, while the poverty level increases 42 percent.
2 a proposal for help
Feeding Illinois called for the General Assembly of Illinois to approve $5 million in funding to local food banks, which they say would provide an additional 10 million pounds of food to keep up with the growing hunger problem. “The food banks in this state — the food pantries and soup kitchens that they serve — are desperate for this,” Feeding Illinois President Kate Maehr said. “As I’ve said, I’ve yet to meet anyone in Springfield or in any county in the state who believe that it’s OK for people in the state to go hungry, and that is what we are talking about.” Maehr said food banks in Illinois need the money “so we can make sure that when a family or an individual turns up at a food pantry there is food.”
3 keeping pace
Northern Illinois Food Bank President and CEO H. Dennis Smith said if the funding doesn’t come through, his nonprofit will see a shortfall. “We do the best we can in getting donated food generated through working harder and having more trucks on the road to go pick it up,” Smith said. “But if we don’t get that funding, we will be short of where we need to be.”
4 harvest for all
The Kane County Farm Bureau, a St. Charles-based group organized to help farmers improve their production practices, started the Harvest for All program to encourage local farms and consumers to support hunger relief efforts. Farmers are asked to donate the harvest or a set number of bushels from an acre of land to benefit a local food pantry. Interested consumers can make a tax deductible donation to the campaign. Steve Arnold, manager of the farm bureau, said they wanted to give farmers and others “another avenue” for donating to the efforts to fight hunger. Arnold said they pulled in $13,000 in crops, cash and in-kind donations in 2009 from 40 families in the community. For information, call (630) 584-8660.
5 what do people in Kane county do for help?
Lazarus House, an emergency shelter and outreach program serving at risk Tri-Cities and Kane County residents, reports it helped dish out 68,000 meals to residents and guests in fiscal year 2009. Executive Director Darlene Marcusson said they get all their meals through restaurants, grocery stores and donations. “We’re very blessed that way,” Marcusson said. “It can be a challenge, but by God’s grace we have some grant money, and we’re able to help households.” Marcusson said there are 60 people living in Lazarus House, and the shelter subsidizes 62 households monthly and has an additional list of about 20 people to feed. She said with money from the stimulus package, they have more funding available to help others. “People are very welcome to come for meals (if they need to),” Marcusson said. “We serve three meals a day, and they’re all good.” For information on Lazarus House, call (630) 587-2144.
GateHouse News Service contributed to this report.
