Fighting Food Insecurity… Sustainably!
Spring is a joyful time in Northern Illinois, as the earth wakes up from its chilly, Midwestern nap. Across our 13-county service area we see bulbs blooming into flowers, farmers preparing their fields for planting, and we feel a renewed vitality as the sun joins us longer each day. I’m reminded each spring how our earth generously provides for both our spiritual and physical well-being, sharing its beauty and bounty.
Not all of our neighbors share in that bounty, however. In 2024 we provided the equivalent of 92 million meals to neighbors struggling to make ends meet, And we do that while striving to care for the earth.
More than 60% of our food is donated by grocers, manufacturers, and farmers. When some items don’t meet our standards, we are now able to work with innovative partners to repurpose that material. For example, last year we sent 633 tons of unused food to Green Era, a local composting organization. This process cut nearly 28 metric tons of methane emissions. This means that for every pound of food composted, over two pounds of CO2 equivalents were prevented from entering the atmosphere.
Our commitment to protecting resources isn’t new. The Food Bank’s main facility in Geneva was constructed in 2011 with energy-efficiency in mind, utilizing natural light, reducing utility costs, and earning a LEED Gold certification. Many of our network food pantries continue to lead the way on sustainability, as well.
Even as we nurture each other and the earth, it’s an uncertain time and your support is vital and appreciated. I hope we’ll hear from you! Be well this spring!
Sincerely,
Julie Yurko, President & CEO
Your Support is Feeding Your
Community and Caring for the Earth
Like you, Northern Illinois Food Bank is concerned about protecting the environment as we strengthen our community.
Each year, we recover over 30 million pounds of safe and nutritious surplus food. We also sort and recycle materials such as plastic, cardboard, glass, and metal. And every year, with the support of concerned friends like you, we’re continuing to innovate in our commitment to sustainability.
In 2024, we began a partnership with Green Era, a Chicago based company on the cutting edge of turning inedible organic material into rich soil. The Food Bank is fortunate to receive donations of canned goods from stores and manufacturers, but some cans arrive damaged and the food inside is unusable. Rather than putting these cans in a landfill, Green Era is able to use machines to open the cans, recycle the metal, and turn the inedible food into rich soil for Illinois farmers and community gardens. This has resulted in a 58% reduction in our waste carbon footprint since the beginning of the partnership.
Similarly, food scraps often remain once our volunteers have diligently sorted and packaged produce. These inedible scraps are… [continue reading]
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Meet our Neighbors… Judy and Phil
Seniors Giving Back
Judy and her husband Phil are volunteers at Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Senior Mobile Market program in Boone County. Just like Judy and Phil, many neighbors are both volunteers and recipients of help.
A typical day of volunteering starts at noon, and by 4 p.m. they’ve helped dozens of walk-in clients and packed food boxes they’ll deliver to senior neighbors on the way home.
“It means the world to me.” – Leah, NIU Student
Partner Agencies Innovating for Sustainability
Our partner food pantries share Northern Illinois Food Bank’s commitment to sustainability, pursuing innovative strategies to reduce food waste while serving their local communities.
For example:
• Post Pantry in Waukegan operates a hydroponic farm that provides fresh produce 52 weeks a year, and utilizes electric vans to pick up food for the pantry
• Rock River Valley Food Pantry in Rockford is fully solar, with panels on the main building that provide the majority of their electricity
• St. Elizabeth Food Pantry in Rockford partners with a local farmers group for fresh produce, cutting back on transportation emission
Larry Larson continues to find ways to strengthen his community. This kind Naperville resident worked for three decades at the library at College of DuPage before retiring, helping countless community college students achieve their goals. He has supported Northern Illinois Food Bank since 1994, and has been a monthly donor for many years, all to make sure neighbors can put food on their tables.
“Eating is such a basic need,” Larry notes. “And unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realize there is need in our community.”
When he began considering how to make a long-term impact for neighbors facing hunger, Larry knew exactly what to do. He arranged to include Northern Illinois Food Bank in his estate plan, to leave a legacy of generosity and care for our Northern Illinois community. “It was an easy first choice charity to include in my estate,” he shares.
