College and High School Students Working with Hunger Free Northbrook

Henry Fetta

Second Annual “Students Helping Students” Campaign at the Westmoor Elementary School parking lot, 2500 Cherry Lane, Northbrook on Sunday, July 25th from 10 am – 2 pm.

Hunger exists in every community in America and Northbrook is no exception. There are almost 400 students in the Northbrook public schools who are on the free or reduced lunch program and are food insecure. Hunger Free Northbrook, a program of Hunger Resource Network (a Northbrook-based non-profit organization), is currently serving 160 of the 400 students across the twelve public elementary and middle schools in Northbrook.

Local college and high school students have decided to help these 160 students in a special way this summer. You can help by bringing a Fun Bag to the event on Sunday, July 25th between 10am and 2pm.

Samantha Mallahan, a junior pre-med student at Vanderbilt University and Erin Nibeck, who will be a freshman architecture student at the University of Illinois in Champaign are leading a team to help their neighbors in need.

With a goal of collecting one bag of personal care items per student, or 160 bags, Sam, Erin and their team members are hosting the second annual “Students Helping Students” event in the Westmoor Elementary School parking lot, 2500 Cherry Lane, Northbrook on Sunday, July 25^th from 10 am – 2 pm.

They have a few simple requests for those who would like to help:

Purchase the list of essential household items found here and some fun snacks; please follow the contents and packaging guidelines (Fun Bag Contents). Total cost is $25-30.
Bring the bag to Westmoor Elementary School, 2500 Cherry Lane, Northbrook between 10 am and 2 pm on Sunday, July 25^th and meet Sam, Erin and other college and high school students who will be joining them to collect the bags and keep score!
Please spread the word. We need your help to reach the goal of 160 bags!
Note: if you prefer to have us put the items together for you, no problem! Simply go to hungerresourcenetwork.org and click on the “Donate” button to contribute $25-30 for each bag. Please add “HFN-PCB” (for Hunger Free Northbrook-Personal Care Bag) in the comment section.

Please look for the team’s fun and engaging posts on the Hunger Resource Network Facebook and Instagram pages over the next several weeks.

The personal care bags will be distributed to the students and their families in August through the schools. Any questions about the program may be directed to Sam or Erin via their social media pages or via Hunger Resource Network (hungerresourcenetwork.org). Thanks in advance for your generosity.

About Hunger Resource Network & Hunger Free Northbrook

Hunger Resource Network is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the alleviation of hunger by making connections between those who have surplus food and those who need it. We do this currently through our Community Outreach Days and our partnerships with vendors at local Farmers’ Markets.

Founded in April, 2009 and certified as a 501(c)(3) in July of that same year, Hunger Resource Network (HRN) does not serve individuals directly, but rather coordinates services through recipient agencies.

Hunger Free Northbrook is a program initiated by the Hunger Resource Network, an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3), non-profit organization based in Northbrook, IL. Hunger Resource Network, founded in 2009, is dedicated to help alleviate hunger in the Chicago area by meeting the needs of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

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The Importance of Protein

By Marcy Kirshenbaum • 22 Oct, 2023

By addressing food insecurity and promoting adequate protein intake, we can improve the overall health and well-being of individuals and communities. This requires collaborative efforts from governments, non-governmental organizations, community-based initiatives, and individuals to create sustainable solutions and break the cycle of food insecurity. Efforts should focus on improving access to nutritious food, promoting sustainable agriculture, fostering economic opportunities, and empowering vulnerable populations. Food insecurity has profound consequences on physical health, cognitive development, and overall well-being. When individuals or households experience food insecurity, they often struggle to access an adequate and diverse range of nutritious foods, including those rich in protein. Inadequate protein intake contributes to malnutrition and its associated health consequences. Protein is essential for growth , development, and maintenance of the body's tissues, as well as for numerous physiological processes. It plays a crucial role in building and repairing muscles, producing enzymes and hormones, supporting immune function, and maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails. Protein intake has an additional benefit of reducing feelings of hunger because it metabolizes at a slower rate than carbohydrates thereby promoting fullness. Insufficient protein intake can lead to muscle wasting, increased illness, delayed wound healing, and decreased overall health and well-being.