Business as usual during NATO Summit

Hundreds of global leaders and thousands of journalists are headed to the City of Chicago for the 2012 NATO Summit, the first time the global gathering has been hosted in a U.S. city other than Washington D.C.   Traffic will soon be moving slowly around downtown but here at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, it's business as usual.

On Friday alone, the Food Depository expects to distribute 126,649 pounds of food to feed hungry people in Cook County.  Forty-six agencies (pantries, soup kitchens and shelters) will pick up produce and nonperishable food from our warehouse. Our SNAP Outreach teams will be out in the community helping individuals sign up for federal food assistance.  Hunger Walk organizers will be rallying fundraising teams for the 27th Annual Hunger Walk this June 23.  The students at Chicago's Community Kitchens will be preparing delicious meals for children in low-income neighborhoods.   Dozens of volunteers will brave the NATO traffic to sort donated food items and pack boxes for older adults and struggling families.

As the city prepares to take the world stage as host of the NATO Summit,  the Food Depository will continue to play a leading role in providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in Cook County.

You can help!  Go to chicagosfoodbank.org/hungerwalk and sign up to walk in this year's 27th Annual Hunger Walk, on June 23 at Soldier Field.  Walk and raise funds to help more than 807,000 men, women and children in Cook County who don't know where their next meal is coming from.