21 schools, corporate partners team up to raise thousands for hunger challenge
Students and community leaders marched in proudly on Wednesday, March 16, to celebrate the Change for Hunger Challenge, where they raised more than $31,000 to fight food insecurity in their community.
The event, "Champions of Change," was held at Food For Greater Elgin, the organization leading the charge to bring students and corporate partners together to make a difference.
"Change for Hunger is designed for our community to unite in the fight against hunger, and we are so grateful to the schools and business partners for the impact they are having," said Michelle Frampton, executive director of Food For Greater Elgin. "Most importantly, this is a moment that empowers children to make a difference in their worlds. It is an opportunity to literally influence the future through working with our upcoming leaders."
In its fourth year running, Change for Hunger challenges schools to raise $500 in change to help local families in need who visit Food For Greater Elgin. Students learn that with Food For Greater Elgin's ability to acquire food at reduced costs, it takes just 75 cents to provide a full day's worth of nutritious food to someone faced with hunger. Twenty dollars helps the organization provide an entire grocery cart of food to a family.
"It is a moment when every penny counts, and children can know they have truly contributed to someone else's life," Frampton stated. Each school taking the challenge is paired with a corporate partner, who rallies behind their schools and encourages the children by making a $500 matching gift to support their efforts. Twenty-one area schools and businesses teamed up this year in the communitywide effort.
"We are proud of our students and our schools for being champions for change locally in our community," said Tony Sanders, Elgin Area School District U-46 CEO, who was in attendance at Champions of Change. "Working together, our school communities have made a profound difference for those in need."
Food For Greater Elgin is a large, client choice food pantry serving an average of 1,200 households per month, equating to nearly 6,000 individuals - of whom half are children. The organization practices a holistic approach to food insecurity through a grocery store environment with plentiful, nutritious, fresh and shelf-stable items, and a community resource center where clients are linked to additional information and services.
For information on fighting hunger, visit www.FoodForGreaterElgin.org.
The schools and partners are:
• Washington Elementary with Hopp Accounting
• Century Oaks Elementary with John B. Sanfilippo and Son, Inc.
• Channing Elementary with Heritage Crystal Clean
• Clinton Elementary with FLP Tax/Planning
• Fox Meadow Elementary with Arthur Rodgers
• Highland Elementary with Imago
• Hilltop Elementary with Scott Budd, Edward Jones/Lynn Glaser
• Harriet Gifford Elementary with Centimark
• Wayne Elementary with Mueller
• Willard Elementary with Lundstrom Insurance
• Abbott Middle School with Shales McNutt
• Eastview Middle School with Traffic Services Inc.
• Ellis Middle School with Thrivent
• Kenyon Woods Middle School with Elgin State Bank
• Kimball Middle School with Edward Jones
• Prairie Knolls Middle School with Mueller
• Bartlett High School with Thrivent
• Larkin High School with Mueller
• South Elgin High School with Wisdom Family Foundation
• Central School with Shales McNutt
• Einstein Academy with Elarasys Worldwide