Northern Illinois Food Bank named Food Bank of the year

Recognized for its ability to meet the skyrocketing demand for food assistance, the Northern Illinois Food Bank has been named Food Bank of the Year by the Chicago-based Feeding America organization.

The deep and prolonged recession, along with high unemployment rates, have caused an increasing number of people to seek help. The St. Charles-based food bank is being honored for keeping pace with the demand. The NIFB was chosen from more than 200 food banks across the country.

"Their ability to distribute food to those who need it is truly a model for our network," Feeding America President Vicki Escarra said in a statement. "Northern Illinois Food Bank is an incredible asset to its community."

Officials at the NIFB said the organization provides food to more than 500,000 people each year. That number is up almost 170 percent since 2006, reflecting the down economy. Two years ago, NIFB distributed 22.5 million pounds of food. This year, the organization expects to hand out 35 million pounds of food products.

"To be recognized by your peers as the top organization in your field is an honor that is hard to put into words," NIFB President and CEO, H. Dennis Smith said in a statement. "In an economic climate where hunger is exploding in our area, this award will fuel our passion and resolve to provide even more hunger relief services to help those in our communities."

The NIFB receives food donations from national and local food manufacturers and neighboring food stores, as well as from federal and state assistance programs. The group also employs a "food recovery" system that saves food from being tossed out by grocery stores as the products near their expiration dates. The nonprofit charity works with 520 partner agencies in 13 Illinois counties.

A capital drive is under way at NIFB to raise funds to build a newer, more efficient distribution center this summer, officials said. Space is tight in the current 147,000-square-foot facility. The new Food Distribution and Community Nutrition Center will be in Geneva.

"The hard working and tireless efforts of the staff and agency partners must continue until we have achieved our mission of creating a hunger-free Northern Illinois," Smith said.