Hunger Action Day in Chicago Area Food Banks
Food banks in the Chicago area observed Hunger Action Day to raise awareness about food insecurity, with the Northern Illinois Food Bank serving approximately 575,000 meals monthly. The event highlighted the growing need for food assistance amid rising food prices and inflation.
| Score | Value |
|---|---|
Scale | 7 |
Novelty | 5 |
Positivity | 6 |
Reliability | 8 |
Actionability | 7 |
Society | 8 |
Journalism | 5 |
Highlights
- Hunger Action Day was observed by food banks in the Chicago area to raise awareness about food insecurity.
- The Northern Illinois Food Bank serves approximately 575,000 meals a month across 13 counties, a number that has doubled since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- One in five households with children in Chicago suffers from food insecurity.
- Over 25,000 volunteers contributed nearly 100,000 hours to food banks in the past year, packing more than seven million pounds of food.
- The Greater Chicago Food Depository is advocating for the farm bill in Congress, which supports food banks and families.
Perspectives
- There is concern among food bank advocates that proposed cuts to funding in the farm bill could negatively impact food assistance programs that have proven effective during the pandemic.
- Many volunteers express a strong sense of community and fulfillment from their work at food banks, emphasizing the importance of food access as a basic human right.