We Do This Work Together!
I’m honored to lead Northern Illinois Food Bank. I’m very grateful to our staff and volunteers. And I’m proud of the difference we make!
But I also know this. Our community can’t do this alone. We’re connected to other local, regional, and national networks that share knowledge and insights. We’re also privileged to work with Feeding America, including national disaster response efforts when water and food are urgently needed.
Knowing how to respond to national disasters helps prepare us for the little disasters that happen in families and communities every day. A medical emergency. The loss of a job. When families here face a crisis, they turn to the Food Bank, and we respond quickly!
That’s when our staff and volunteers are on the front lines. And that’s when your support matters so much! Day after day, and all through the year, you help meet the need for food today, and create more hope for the future. Thanks for being our partner in this essential work!
Please consider starting the year with a generous gift or starting an automatic monthly gift. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Julie Yurko, President & CEO
Your Generosity by the Numbers
Meet our Neighbors… Brian and Melissa
When Brian was in college, he volunteered at the campus food pantry, never imagining a day would come when he’d need one himself. After a year of unemployment and watching his savings deplete, Brian and his partner found themselves making tough financial decisions.
Thankfully, the Neighborhood Food Pantries site in Glendale Heights has been a lifeline. Using the OrderAhead service, Brian can order groceries online and pick them up without hassle.
Every Friday afternoon, Northern Illinois Food Bank sets up a Mobile Market near the Fort Sheridan Army Base, providing nutritious food to neighbors who are facing hunger. Melissa, a single mom from Waukegan, has been a regular visitor for several months. With rising food costs making it hard to balance groceries and bills, she has found comfort in the Mobile Market.
“It’s been a relief to know I can come here and get food for my family, and I don’t feel judged,” she says. Melissa is especially grateful for the volunteers and donors who make it all possible.
Food Bank 101
You support Northern Illinois Food Bank, and we’re so grateful. Here are some answers to questions you may have.
It may be helpful to think of the Food Bank as a
“warehouse”, and our network of 900 pantries,
feeding sites and programs as “distributors.”
We source, sort, pack, and deliver the food to local
pantries so our neighbors can access it, for free,
right in their own communities.
Much of the food we distribute has been
donated by wholesalers, manufacturers,
retailers, and growers. Distributing as
much healthy food as possible is an
important goal so we also purchase foods,
prioritizing fresh fruits and vegetables.
Over 80% of the food our neighbors receive is
distributed by our network of local food pantries.
The rest is accessed by neighbors at our own
direct distributions—including Mobile Markets,
Senior Food Delivery, Backpack Programs, and
My Pantry Express online ordering.
When food arrives at any of our four centers
(Geneva, Joliet, Rockford, Lake Forest),
volunteers sort and process it for delivery or
pickup by our pantry partners. Sometimes
volunteers help serve neighbors at Mobile
Markets and My Pantry Express distributions.
We couldn’t do it without volunteers!
Donations fuel the work of the Food Bank
—purchasing food, storing and transporting
products, supporting food pantry partners
with education and financial assistance, and
providing much-needed groceries to anyone
in need. Please make a gift today!
Where the Difference is Made
We’re incredibly grateful for the over 140,000 hours our volunteers contribute each year to help nourish our communities. Today, we’d like you to meet one of them—Dan Adelman, a longtime Highland Park resident who has been volunteering at the Highwood Mobile Market for about a year.
Dan brings his high school children to show them the value of service and often goes the extra mile, greeting neighbors with a smile and using a red wagon to help deliver groceries. He believes in the power of giving time, and his efforts have made a lasting impact on the families he helps. Read More
A Weeklong Labor of Love
First Church in McHenry is dedicated to providing food to neighbors in need through their drive-up food pantry every Friday. But their work extends beyond that, with pantry managers Deb Heath and Pam White ensuring that the community’s needs are met throughout the week by coordinating orders, picking up supplies, and managing distribution. Read More
Andrea and Steve Klouda have been supporting Northern Illinois Food Bank for nearly 20 years, through both generous donations and volunteering. As a registered dietitian, Andrea believes food is a basic necessity, and Steve feels it’s important to give back. They are especially passionate about the Holiday Meal Box program, but understand that hunger is a year-round issue. To ensure their support continues, they’ve included the Food Bank in their trust, knowing their gift will have a lasting impact. Read More
Wills vs. Trusts Seminar
Thursday, February 13, 6 p.m.
This seminar with estate attorney Ted Kuczek will be held at
Northern Illinois Food Bank’s center in Geneva. Whether you are
updating or just starting to create an estate plan, Ted will provide a
thought-provoking overview to help you.