Northern Illinois Food Bank awarded grant from local foundation

Northern Illinois Food Bank will provide even more nutritious food to neighbors in need across the Rockford area this year through its Take 50 Food Program, thanks to a grant for more than $11,000 from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.

"We are grateful for the continued support of and dedication to our mission shown by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois," said Julie Yurko, Northern Illinois Food Bank's president and CEO. "This grant will help bring even greater access to much-needed nutritious foods to our hungry neighbors across Winnebago County."

The Take 50 Food Grant Program allows the food bank to subsidize the costs of healthier foods for partner feeding programs across its 13-county service area. It also encourages them to select "Foods to Encourage" items, which often have a higher shared maintenance fee. Additionally, access to healthy foods helps hungry neighbors lower their risk of diet-related diseases and other long-term health problems, and children are less likely to face academic and physical development issues caused by inadequate nutrition.

In 2016, Northern Illinois Food Bank provided 4.7 million meals to neighbors in need in Winnebago County, meeting 56.6 percent of the meal gap (8.3 million meals) for the county. There are more than 42,000 food insecure residents and more than 16,000 food insecure children in Winnebago County.

Northern Illinois Food Bank leads the northern Illinois community in solving hunger by providing nutritious meals to those in need through innovative programs and partnerships. Since 1983, food manufacturers, local grocers, corporations, foundations, and individuals have come together to donate food and funds, and evaluate and repack food for distribution to 800 community food pantries and feeding programs serving more than 71,500 hungry neighbors each week across 13 counties. That commitment provided 62.5 million meals to those in need in fiscal year 2016. Find out how you can volunteer, donate and get involved at www.SolveHungerToday.org or follow www.facebook.com/northernilfoodbank, www.instagram.com/northernilfoodbank/ or twitter.com/ILfoodbank.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is a member of Feeding America.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois has been a regional leader in philanthropy since 1953. It serves as a catalyst for giving in order to attract, grow, and preserve an endowment for the needs of Northern Illinois. Since 2000, it has granted more than $46 million for charitable purposes.