Local food pantries lack resources to support growing demand of groceries
Economic hardship has affected millions of people from all walks of life, including those living in the North Shore area. Job cuts, medical bills, and the devastating housing market have led many local residents to seek assistance from food pantries. Nationally in 2008, America’s Second Harvest reported an average 15-20% increase in the number of people turning to food pantries for help compared to the prior year. During the same time, New Trier Township alone has seen a 53% increase in the number of people requesting assistance.
The United Way of the North Shore, area food pantries, local businesses and volunteers have combined efforts to help residents in need by replenishing local food pantry shortages. As part of United Way’s Campaign Kick-Off week, you can make a difference by donating goods at local drop-off sites. Donated goods will be distributed among the New Trier Township Food Pantry, Morraine Township Food Pantry, Hemenway Church and the Salvation Army. United Way has set a goal to collect 10,000 pounds of food.
Collection boxes, donated by Pioneer Packaging, will be placed at local banks and businesses including:
- Harris Bank in Glencoe and Highland Park
- Coldwell-Banker in Glencoe, Highland Park, Northbrook, Evanston, Wilmette and Winnetka
- Northern Trust in Lake Forest, Highland Park, Glenview and Winnetka
- Evanston Libraries
- Evanston Civic Center
- Lake Bluff Public Library
- Sunset Foods in Highland Park
- National City Bank in Highland Park
- Bank of America in Highland Park
- Chase Bank in Highland Park
- United Way of the North Shore, at the Willow Hill Executive Offices
While we can’t eradicate all of the need in our area, we can certainly make a difference. We are one community and we LIVE UNITED. The time to give has never been greater. As we launch our 2009 residential fundraising campaign in the coming weeks, we hope that residents in each of our eleven North Shore communities consider increasing their financial support to United Way. Through their generosity, we look forward to continuing our funding of health and human service agencies serving the North Shore.
For more information on how to participate, please call or e-mail United Way of the North Shore at (847) 999-2990 or uwnorthshore@uw-mc.org.
To make a donation or learn how you can become involved with the United Way in your community, please contact the United Way of the North Shore office at 847.999.2990 or visit the website at www.uwnorthshore.org.
