Allstate agency owners secure $24,000 grant to fight hunger, support disaster preparedness in Geneva

Allstate agency owners in the Northern Illinois-area recently joined Allstate volunteers across seven states to secure a $24,000 Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grant to benefit 10 Feeding America member food banks, including Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva, which serves the 13 counties in Northern Illinois.

Allstate volunteers collected monetary donations during an online virtual food drive in April to enable Feeding America food bank members to support local families in need.

Every $1 donated during the online virtual food drive will help provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.

Replenishing local food banks also allows rapid response during a natural disaster, which can leave community members without shelter, power and access to safe food and water.

Allstate agency owners also volunteered by packing disaster relief boxes at Northern Illinois Food Bank. Their efforts will help provide supplies that can be distributed the moment a community faces disaster-related damage.

The online virtual food drive and hands-on volunteer activity were part of a multi-state Allstate Foundation volunteer effort benefitting Feeding America member food banks in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina and Texas.

In all, $136,000 was donated through Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants.

"Following the devastating aftermath of hurricanes and wildfires at the end of last year, Feeding America's disaster resources have been significantly depleted," said Chuck Suda, Geneva, Ill. Allstate agency owner and project leader for the food drive and local volunteering event. "Feeding America serves 46 million Americans every year and we are so proud of our local Allstate volunteers for stepping up to replenish food supplies, raise funds and strengthen Feeding America's ability to deliver critical emergency relief to communities in need because every meal makes a difference."

Participating Geneva-area Allstate agency owner and financial specialist volunteers include (in alphabetical order by last name):

• Maggie Barashka, Oak Brook

• Kristi Bloedorn, Bolingbrook

• Brian Boyd, New York

• Barbara Brown, Homewood

• Kevin Calder, Oswego

• Delia Diaz, Chicago

• Jill Ellis-Craig, Rockford

• James Felts, Rockford

• William Freiward, Westchester

• Bruce Gielow, Schaumburg

• Amy Golden, Lake Bluff

• Carly Guardi, Naperville

• Jason Herbers, Woodridge

• Arlee Holt, Frankfort

• Michael Imm, Barrington

• Brent Jablonski, Fox Lake

• Angela Jeffries, Downers Grove

• Douglas Jeffries, Downers Grove

• Lisa Jusino, Chicago

• Bruce King, Elgin

• Adele Knight, Schaumburg

• Evan Larson, South Elgin

• Jeffrey Larson, Naperville

• Dale Mason, Streamwood

• Amber Murphy, Roselle

• Kristen Robertson, Plainfield

• David Rosenberg, Batavia

• Phil Rutledge, Barrington

• Joe Schneider, Chicago

• Eric Schroeder, Roscoe

• Scott Sebestin, Hillside

• Joseph Seminaris, Mundelein

• Robert Styrkowicz, Lake Villa

• Chuck Suda, Schaumburg

• James Towns, Addison

• Jennifer Zills, Rockford

Since 2011, Allstate and The Allstate Foundation have contributed more than $2.5 million to Feeding America to support its disaster preparedness and relief programs.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is one of thousands of organizations this year to receive Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants secured by Allstate agency owners and financial specialists for their volunteer efforts. The grants support organizations addressing domestic violence, youth empowerment, disaster preparedness, hunger and other causes.