Local Efforts Help Eradicate Hunger

Thelma Sardin |

The nations current economic situation has countless Americans in distress as they do a juggling act to secure basic necessities like food.

According to Feeding America, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization, the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Economic Research Service has issued a new report stating that more than 50 million Americans, including 17 million children, live in hunger.

In that same report, 10.6 percent of households with children found many did not know the source of their next meal.

The USDA report confirms what we already knowthat domestic hunger is still on the rise, remarked Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America. Celebrities have partnered Feeding America in a public service announcement campaign to raise awareness about hunger relief.

We thank our Entertainment Council members, our numerous celebrity friends and the Ad Council for helping us bring national awareness to the growing problem of hunger, said Escarra in a releases statement. Stars participating in the movement include actor Taye Diggs who said, Feeding America and the Ad Council enabled me to play a small part in raising awareness about hunger in America, so the hardworking people in our communities will not go hungry, Diggs said.

In Illinois, the hunger relief situation is reflective of similar national trends. In a food bank response conducted by Feeding America, the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) saw a 34 percent increase in the number of visits to food pantries between June 2008 and June 2009. The figure is representative of the estimated increase in demand or need for emergency food assistance during that time period. The GCFD cited unemployment and underemployment as critical reasons why there was an increased need for emergency food. Furthermore, although Feeding America cited that food banks are finding it more challenging to accommodate the increasing numbers of people in need, the GCFD or its agencies has never had to turn anyone away.

Locally, in south suburban Harvey, residents benefit from a pantry ran by Thornton Township which receives food and goods from the GCFD.

On Nov. 24, the pantry hosted its annual Thanksgiving food giveaway. The pantry opened ten years ago with the guidance of Thornton Township Supervisor, Frank M. Zuccarelli. The Supervisor noticed the economic hardship and the need for quality dietary choices for citizens of the South Suburbs.

During its humble beginnings, the pantry provided balanced food options to 200 families per month. Now, with larger resources, the pantry is able to accommodate over 5,000 families monthly. With the current economic state of the nation, the last thing people should have to worry about is food, Zuccarelli said in a recent press release.

According to the same release, Thornton Township expected to give away over 800 boxes of food and goods to families. At 11:30 am, during the time the Citizen visited the pantry, 180 boxes had been distributed and the staff anticipated a few hundred more to be given out.

During the current economic times the pantry, helps out a lot, especially when it comes down toward the end of the month when food gets scarce in the house, said Catherine Brown, a pantry frequenter. With a family of six, Brown says the pantry helps replenish her food stock.

Local businesses are also helping to ease hunger. Jewel-Osco recently launched, Unity in Community, which is an outreach program that is comprised of several multicultural social service organizations serving needy families and communities.

Recently, Jewel-Osco donated $25,000 to provide almost 4,000 meals to Chicago families for Thanksgiving. The food donations were presented during an event at Kennedy-King College (KKC) in Englewood. Jewel-Osco started the initiative because in the past the retailer, has partnered with numerous community groups across the city to help donate Thanksgiving Day food baskets to the needy, stated Miguel Alba, Community Relations and Government Affairs Director at Jewel-Osco. Black on Black Love is an African-American social service organization that paired with Jewel-Osco and was present at the KKC event.

Moving forward, Jewel-Osco plans to use Unity in Community on a continual basis. This is only a part of the Jewel-Oscos ongoing effort to fight hunger throughout the year. We will use this program title to continue helping to promote unity in the efforts to fight hunger, said Alba.

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