DuPage charity expands summer food program by 110%

The Humanitarian Service Project of DuPage County is currently seeking the aid of the community to support its summertime food distribution program to local, low-income families. This summer, HSP has undertaken an expansion of this program in order to fulfill the nutritional needs of local children and families suffering from food insecurity.

In doing so, HSP has seen the program expand 110% from serving 100 families in past summers, to serving 210 local families this year.

During each of the summer months, HSP provides a large grocery package containing fresh produce, frozen meat, bread, and non-perishables to 210 local families to fill the "nutrition gap" faced by these families when school meal programs are not available in the summertime. In June, the first month of the program, HSP distributed over 12.5 tons of groceries to these families, and anticipates distributing over 25 tons of groceries over the next two months. HSP is seeking community support to meet this additional need for critical services through donations of monetary support of the Children's Project.

"We understand the food insecurity issues our families are facing," said Executive Director Kristin Senne said this of the program's expansion. "The increase in HSP's services are necessary to combat hunger during the summer when children do not have access to subsidized school meals."

For details, contact the Humanitarian Service Project at hsp@hsp.agency. Visit www.hsp.agency.

The mission of the Humanitarian Service Project is to alleviate the pain and suffering that poverty brings to seniors and children in DuPage and Kane counties, Illinois. In 2016, during the Christmas Offering Project, 1,903 children received gifts and over 500 impoverished families received groceries. With the Senior Citizen Project, it provides monthly food deliveries and secret pal gifts to 134 low-income seniors. Through the Children's Project, it provides for the nutritional, emotional, and academic needs of more than 700 low-income children. In 2016, though the three programs, it distributed 123 tons of groceries to people in need.