‘The struggle is real’: Food For Friends working to fight hunger, give hope

In 1994, Dan Herzog and his family were at a service at Willow Creek Church in South Barrington when the sermon’s simple message resonated with him — get off the bench and get in the game.

“It was like God was speaking directly to me,” said Herzog, a 23-year resident of Bartlett.

Herzog took the message to heart and started participating in urban plunges, where he and others would serve alongside an inner-city ministry to help the homeless on the South Side of Chicago.

Then, in November of ’94, a professor friend called Herzog and asked if he would be willing to bring bread for a Thanksgiving Eve dinner at Harold Washington College for people living on Lower Wacker Drive who had nowhere else to go. Herzog, who worked for 39 years at the Gonnella Bread Company, agreed, thinking he would drop off the bread and then go out and party with his friends.

“When I got down there and saw what the college kids were doing, it wrecked me in my heart, so I decided to stay and help,” he said. “When it was over I told my professor buddy, ‘Hey, do you want to do this again next year? We could form a committee and do a little bit more.’ Little did I know a charity would be born.”

While Herzog and his partners continued to feed the homeless the following years, he finally decided the only way to do more was to make money. So, in 2002, Food for Friends was created as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Their main fundraiser is a golf outing, which this year will take place Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Bartlett Hills Golf Course.

This fundraiser, along with a business model of only volunteers and no paid staff, helps keep overhead to less than 3%, so 97% of money raised goes directly to serving people who struggle with food insecurity.

“We are a Christian organization focused on serving others in need,” Herzog said.

Since those humble beginnings, Food For Friends now holds between 65 and 70 events each year, with 16 to 20 community partners in the city and the suburbs, including Gonnella Baking Co. in Schaumburg, Lee n’ Eddies Catering in Glen Ellyn, Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Wayside in Elgin, Fellowship Housing in Hoffman Estates, HELPS Ministry in St. Charles, The Chapel in Lake Zurich, Life Bridge Community Church in Wauconda, and House of Restoration in Elgin.

“We work with struggling families who must decide whether to pay rent and utilities or to buy food,” Herzog said. “The struggle is real for families facing food insecurity.”

Once just a Thanksgiving tradition, Food For Friends now hands out blue bags for all holidays filled with food staples and a whole turkey or a ham so families can prepare their own meals. The group also does clothing drives, serves meals all year round, and contributes to area food banks.

“But Thanksgiving is still our sweet spot,” Herzog said. “In 2025, 1,600 blue bags were handed out in the city and suburbs.”

To help with Food For Friends’ mission, the annual golf outing needs golfers and volunteers.

The 23rd annual event will begin with a 9/11 Patriot Day ceremony to remember those who lost their lives during the attack in 2001. There will be a presentation of colors by the Bartlett police and fire departments, as well as Bartlett VFW Post 11018.

After 18 holes of golf, there will be a luncheon with the nonprofit’s partners and testimonials from people they have helped. There also will be a raffle of prizes such as iPads, a Weber grill, Bluetooth speakers, an HD 65-inch TV, wine gift baskets, and more.

Herzog said they really need donations and golfers to make this event a success, as well as a volunteer to help manage their website and social media. He said the organization is looking for young volunteers who are interested in what the nonprofit represents and will get in the game like he did all those years ago.

“My passion is to give back and to serve. I am just a regular guy touched, moved and inspired to help our neighbors,” Herzog said. “I am right where God placed me.”

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Food For Friends 23rd annual golf fundraiser

When: Tuesday, Sept. 15. Check-in from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.; 10 a.m. shotgun start

Where: Bartlett Hills Golf Course, 800 W. Oneida Ave., Bartlett

Cost: Sponsors — Gold $1,500, Sliver $1,100, Bronze $700, Single $225, which includes banquet, early dinner/raffle after golf

Details: foodforfriends.org