Gratitude for those who fight hunger

With the level of hunger at its highest point in more than a decade, I would like to thank the hardworking staff and volunteers at food pantries across Illinois who struggle on a day-to-day basis to meet the increased demand.

Recently, I visited the People's Resource Center in DuPage County and met with representatives from food pantries throughout the Chicago area. As co-chairman of the Senate's Hunger Caucus and the author of legislation to relieve hunger and solve the root problem by putting people back to work, I salute their efforts to keep thousands of families from going hungry every year. I'd also like to recognize the corporate donors whose contributions have helped keep these food pantries open and well-stocked: Jewel, Kraft, ConAgra, General Mills, Sara Lee, Del Monte, Walmart, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Panera and many others.

At a time when more than one out of every six Americans struggles to put food on the table or skips meals to ensure groceries last through the week, their work to prevent hunger in our communities is commendable.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin

Springfield