Northern Illinois Food Bank gets $35,750 investment from Caterpillar Foundation
Northern Illinois Food Bank announced a $35,750 grant from Caterpillar's philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation, to provide food to people who face hunger in Kane, Kendall, and Will counties. A member of the Feeding America network, Northern Illinois Food Bank is one of 35 food banks nationwide to receive this grant.
"Northern Illinois Food Bank is thankful to the Caterpillar Foundation for its commitment to helping solve hunger in northern Illinois and supporting our hungry neighbors," said Julie Yurko, president and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank. "Thanks to this grant provided by the Caterpillar Foundation, we will be able to provide more healthy food to the families we serve in Kane, Kendall and Will Counties."
Each year, 49 million people in the United States face hunger, including 1 in 7 residents in northern Illinois. Funding from the Caterpillar Foundation grant will support Northern Illinois Food Bank's Mobile Pantry Program by sponsoring 20 stops by the Food Bank's traveling food pantry in high-need communities in Kane County and Will County. The grant will also bring more access to nutritious food to food pantries in Kendall County by funding the Food Bank's Take 50 Foods to Encourage Program.
The grant will also fund the Food Bank's Take 50 Foods to Encourage Program, through which the Food Bank will subsidize the cost of nutritious food among member food pantries and feeding programs in Kendall County.
"The Caterpillar Foundation is committed to alleviating poverty. We are proud to partner with Northern Illinois Food Bank to support individuals throughout the community who may not know where their next meal will come from," said Michele Sullivan, president of the Caterpillar Foundation.
The Caterpillar Foundation's current investment of $1 million will help to address hunger surrounding Caterpillar communities in 49 counties. The Foundation has invested $3.5 million dollars in Feeding America member food banks since 2013.
Founded in 1952, Caterpillar's philanthropic organization, the Caterpillar Foundation has contributed more than $600 million to help make sustainable progress possible around the world by providing program support in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to education and basic human needs. To learn more about the global impact of the Caterpillar Foundation, visit www.caterpillarfoundation.org.
Northern Illinois Food Bank leads the northern Illinois community in solving hunger by providing nutritious meals to those in need through innovative programs and partnerships. Since 1983, food manufacturers, local grocers, corporations, foundations, and individuals have come together to donate food and funds, and evaluate and repack food for distribution to 800 community food pantries and feeding programs serving more than 71,000 hungry neighbors each week across 13 counties. Find out how you can volunteer, donate, and get involved at www.SolveHungerToday.org.