Northern Illinois Food Bank to hold several initiatives to raise awareness about hunger relief

The Northern Illinois Food Bank is recognizing Hunger Action Month in September with several initiatives throughout the Chicago area to raise awareness about hunger issues in local communities.

The food bank’s monthlong campaign will include Go Orange Day, “Triple it Up: Advocate-Motivate-Donate” matching gift challenge, poverty simulation event and dedicated Hunger Action Month webpage with ways the community can take action throughout the month, according to a news release.

The food bank serves 13 counties in rural and suburban northern Illinois and is a member of the Feeding America Network.

Northern Illinois Food Bank’s mission is to provide nutritious food and resources for neighbors with dignity, equity and convenience through partnerships and innovation with a vision of everyone in northern Illinois having the food they need to thrive. Northern Illinois Food Bank works with a network of more than 900 food pantries, soup kitchens and feeding programs to serve 490,000 neighbors every month and 80 million meals a year in northern Illinois, according to the release.

“The need for food assistance is up 30% from last year and 70% pre-pandemic due to reasons including inflation, rising food prices, gas and the decrease in emergency government benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid,” Julie Yurko, president and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank, said in the release. “Solving hunger is a communitywide effort and we can’t do it alone. Hunger Action Month is a great way for the community to get involved and join us in the fight against hunger.”

Go Orange day and share on social: On Friday, Sept. 15, Northern Illinois Food Bank, along with more than 200 food banks across the country, is calling on the community to “Go Orange” and help raise awareness about hunger relief. Wear an orange and share on social media using #HungerActionMonth #NeighborsEmpowered and #GoOrange.

Poverty simulation event: From 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Sept. 25, Northern Illinois Food Bank will host a poverty simulation event at the West Suburban Center, 273 Dearborn Court, Geneva. A poverty simulation is an experiential learning opportunity that teaches participants about the challenges that people living in poverty are facing. Participants role-play challenges and obstacles that individuals might encounter. For questions, contact Corey Incandela at cincandela@northernilfoodbank.org.

“Triple It Up” matching challenge: Throughout the month of September, volunteers can “Triple it Up: Advocate-Motivate-Donate.” Volunteers will get their gifts double matched by an anonymous donor and volunteer. Every $1 donated will help provide $24 worth of groceries with the double match.

State of the Food Bank video: Yurko reports on the impact the Northern Illinois Food Bank and its network is making to reduce food insecurity throughout the community.

To learn more about Hunger Action Month, visit Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Hunger Action Month webpage at Action Matters - Northern Illinois Food Bank (solvehungertoday.org).