By Kerry T. Smith
•
10 Oct, 2023
“Because of you, Franciscan Outreach is able to make a positive difference in the lives of so many who have nowhere else to turn for help and hope.” Executive Director, Franciscan Outreach, Chicago Hunger is not letting up even as inflation seems to slow To the surprise of many, food insecurity is not declining in the U.S. It’s hanging on as the last of the Covid-19 aid programs has ended and higher costs for some foods continues to strain American household budgets. Affordable housing shortages, higher interest rates, creeping energy costs, labor strikes, severe weather and the growing number of people being laid-off have all contributed to this surprising number of people who are having trouble putting food on their tables. The percentage of households across the U.S. who are food insecure is 10.2% with nearly 4% of those facing severe insecurity. Coming Events HRN Student Food Pack Program-Ongoing Free and reduced price school lunch programs are wonderful. But they’re not enough. So we provide nutritious, overflowing bags of food to every student we can. We have an amazing group of partner organizations including; Sunset Foods, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Northbrook Evangelical Covenant Church, Congregation Beth Shalom, The Village Presbyterian Church and the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce. But, we need lots more help to reduce the number of students coming to school on an empty stomach. Click here to donate or for more information. Community Outreach Food Delivery Day-Veterans Day, November 11 Once again thousands of pounds of nutritious frozen chicken will be sent winging its way to food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens and churches all over Chicagoland. This year, for the first time ever, we will be distributing 132,000 pounds. That’s 12,000 more pounds of chicken than ever before! That comes to 264,000 protein servings for our neighbors in need. And, this year, on Veterans Day, we will be providing thousands of servings to our Veterans in need. There is a great feeling of accomplishment as we load up some 80 trucks, of all types and sizes, and send them on their way to hungry families in every corner of Chicagoland. Click here to contribute needed funds to continue our Community Outreach Days. For more information on HRN and these events click here or go to hungerresourcenetwork.org .