How the Hunger Resource Network Impacts & Connects with the Community


Loaves & Fishes

Loaves & Fishes is one of 100 organizations that participated in Hunger Resource Network’s Community Outreach Food Distribution Day November 11, 2023. Loaves & Fishes received two pallets of frozen chicken, enough to provide the protein portion of meals for 8,000 people. Pictured are 10-lb bags of chicken being distributed at the Loaves & Fishes Market in Naperville. The organization’s Melissa Luken said, “We are beyond appreciative and look forward to a strong partnership with Hunger Resource Network for years to come!”

Loaves & Fishes
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About the Hunger Resource Network

With your help we distribute 120,000 Pounds of chicken, to Chicagoland’s Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries.


DURING OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH DAY, IN NOVEMBER, THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES DEPEND ON US TO HELP!


MORE ABOUT THE HUNGER RESOURCE NETWORK


  • We provide nutritious protein bi-annually to over 100 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters across Chicagoland 


  • Since our beginning in 2009, we have distributed over 4 million pounds of food, the need is great to support our community.


  • Every $100 donation allows us to purchase approximately 200 pounds of chicken, the protein portion of over 400 meals.


  • We serve 160 local students who are on the free or reduced school lunch program with nutritious weekend meals.



Our Community Outreach Day on  Saturday, November 11, 2023 was a huge success.

Why donate or get involved.

The Hunger Resource Network mission is to aid in the alleviation of hunger by helping meet the needs of food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters. We are an all-volunteer board. Since 2009, Hunger Resource Network has distributed over 4 million pounds of food to soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters in the Chicagoland area.

We are celebrating our 14th Anniversary in 2023 and are honored to continue to serve food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in the Chicago area.


Did You Know?

  • One in five children in the U.S. faces hunger. Source: Feeding America, Hunger in America Study
  • More than 49 million Americans live in food insecure households. Source: Ziliak, J.P. & Gundersen, C., The State of Senior Hunger in America
  • 9% of all seniors are food insecure. Source: Ziliak, J.P. & Gundersen, C., The State of Senior Hunger in America
  • Millions of working Americans must choose between buying food and paying rent. Millions of seniors must choose between buying food and paying for medications.
  • “You don’t have to go to a third world country to see hunger. Hunger is here! It’s in our communities and in our neighborhoods today and it will continue to be here tomorrow, unless we choose to make a difference.” Dan Jariabka, President, Hunger Resource Network

Hunger Resource Network Is On Facebook! Click To Visit Our Facebook Page→

 Hunger Resource Network

Please play the video to learn how Hunger Resource Network helps alleviate hunger in our community.

News

View What’s Happening At Hunger Resource Network

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.

Fourth Annual “Students Helping Students” Campaign

By Henry Fetta • 06 Jul, 2022
Westmoor Elementary School - Sunday, July 16th from 10 am – 2 pm.

You Can Help Relieve Hunger in the Chicagoland area

By Henry Fetta • 06 Jul, 2022
We can’t do this work without you—our supporters

College and High School Students Working with Hunger Free Northbrook

By Henry Fetta • 12 Jul, 2021
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.

Reducing Food Waste a Real Priority Today

By Marcy Kirshenbaum • 16 Mar, 2021
Thirty to forty percent of the food in the United States goes to waste according to the USDA’s Economic Research Service. In fact, food is the largest class of waste that ends up in American landfills. You can help reduce this waste by freezing food to avoid spoilage. Frozen foods can be used for future full meals, side dishes or snacks. Meats are one of the most common foods frozen, however, freezing is also a great option for many other types of food: 1. Fresh Herbs Whether you grow herbs in your garden or buy them at a farmers market or grocery store, they spoil quickly. To avoid waste, remove the leaves and freeze them in a container. Another option is to chop and mix them with olive oil and freeze them in an ice cube tray. Once frozen, pop them out and store them in a container. They can be easily added to enhance sauces, meats or pasta.

Uniting Against Hunger-An Imperative Today

By Henry Fetta • 02 Mar, 2021
Regardless of your political, social or religious beliefs one thing that all Americans can agree upon is that no one in our country should go hungry. Today an estimated 22 million Americans are food insecure and that includes 20 to 25% of our children. Proper nutrition for children is a key to their health and development. A child’s physical, emotional, social and brain development can suffer when they are malnourished. Food insecurity can significantly impact their education and career readiness and lead to a spiral of generational poverty. Save the Children reports that in the lowest socio-economic areas in the U.S. as many as 40% of the children are food insecure. They go on to report that 30 million children are dependent on at least some of their meals from a school meals program. However, with the loss of family income related to the pandemic and extended school closures, food insecurity has become an even greater issue as the pandemic continues on. In spite of this, according to The Children’s Defense Fund, “Schools across the U.S. have shamed families and children with lunch debt by taking hot meals away from students and throwing them away, forcing students without lunch money to eat a tuna sandwich as a ‘badge of shame,’ trying to bar students with lunch debt from attending prom or graduation and firing employees for letting a student take food without paying.” The World Health Organization estimates that 45% of the deaths of children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition. They go on to say, “undernutrition makes children much more vulnerable to low height-for-age stunting, disease and death.” Hunger Resource Network has developed programs to help children and families struggling with food insecurity. To learn more about how you can help go to www.hungerresourcenetwork.org If you are in need of food, regardless of your income, contact the Northfield Township Food Pantry at www.twp.northfield.il.us or call 847-724-8300. Hunger Resource Network is an all-volunteer, 501c3 non-profit organization based in Northbrook, IL. It 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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