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Northern Illinois Food Bank kicks off Hunger Action Month 2016

Northern Illinois Food Bank, along with more than 200 food banks across the country, are asking businesses and community members to Go Orange throughout the month of September and help raise awareness of the issue of hunger in Northern Illinois.

Every week, 71,500 people across Northern Illinois visit the Food Bank's network of 800 food pantries and soup kitchens for groceries or a hot meal. Last year alone, Northern Illinois Food Bank distributed more than 62 million meals to people in need across its 13-county service area through programs such as its mobile pantry, Senior Meal Box, Milk2MyPlate, after school and backpack programs.

"Hunger affects our neighbors across the state," said Jennifer Nau, communications director at Northern Illinois Food Bank. "Nearly 80 percent of our neighbors have had to choose between paying for food and utilities in the last year, and our goal is to make sure no one goes hungry in northern Illinois."

Hunger Action Month is Feeding America's annual campaign which encourages the public to learn more about hunger and to get involved with food banks across the nation to help solve hunger in their local communities.

Last year, Northern Illinois Food Bank's Hunger Action Month pledge campaign raised nearly $6,000 worth of food for hungry neighbors, and 200 volunteers joined the Food Bank's Pack-A-Thon at its Northwest Center in Rockford and packed nearly 50,000 pounds of food in one day.

This year, the food bank is working with communities across its 13-county service area to host and participate in a number of events and initiatives throughout the month of September:

• Go Orange & Get Social - Thursday, Sept. 8 is National "Go Orange" Day. Wear orange to help bring awareness to and support for hunger relief, and remember to share on social! Like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter or Instagram, and include hashtags #GoOrange and #ILHungerAction in your posts.

• Volunteer or attend an event - With nearly daily events scheduled throughout the month, there are plenty of ways to get involved during Hunger Action Month, including three Pack-A-Thon events: Rockford Center (Sept. 15, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.), North Suburban Center in Park City (Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.), and at Lewis University in Romeoville (Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to noon). To sign up for a Pack-A-Thon volunteer shift, call (630) 443-6910. Or, check out our full list of Hunger Action Month events at solvehungertoday.org.

• Donate or host an online food & fund drive - Fight hunger with just the click of a button, or with the help of your family and friends! Join our Neighbors Feeding Neighbors campaign to help raise $25,000 during the month of September for neighbors in need - every $1 donated provides $8 worth of food. Visit our Neighbors Feeding Neighbors webpage to donate or start your page today!

Volunteer. Donate. Get Involved. Everyone has a role to play in ending hunger. Take action today and check out our full calendar of Hunger Action Month events at solvehungertoday.org.

About Northern Illinois Food Bank

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 71,500 hungry neighbors each week across 13 counties. That commitment provided 57 million meals to those in need in fiscal year 15. Northern Illinois Food Bank has received a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator for 13 consecutive years.

Find out how you can volunteer, donate and get involved at www.SolveHungerToday.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Northern Illinois Food Bank is a member of Feeding America.

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