Help Feed the Hungry

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Jun 7, 2005 12:20PM

Didja know that today is National Hunger Awareness Day? And that June is National Hunger Awareness Month? Want to know an easy way you can help fight hunger? The Greater Chicago Food Depository is launching a month-long drive with FedEx and you'll be able stop by any FedEx Kinko's location to drop off canned food donations.

The summer months are a super important time to remember those less fortunate. It seems that we all think about it around Thanksgiving and Christmas and the colder months.. but even though the weather is nice in the summer it doesn't mean people aren't suffering. During the summer donations decrease and it makes it really critical for us to make sure that we chip in.

FedEx is doing their part by contributing in $25,000 and transportation services to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Chicagoist plans to go through our cupboards and get rid of any nonparishable foods that haven't seen the light of day in a long while. We'll also throw a few extras in the cart the next time we're at the supermarket. Maybe you could do it too?

US Rep Luis Gutierrez will be observing the day by handing out fruits and veggies in his district from the Food Depo's Producemobile. We were imagining this to be like the Weinermobile, but like in the shape of a carrot or banana.. unforch it's just a semi.

Check out the Food Depo's site for more ways you can help fight hunger locally. One that caught our eye - on July 3 our leftover food from Taste of Chicago will be distributed to local shelters and soup kitchens. Totally a great idea, but isn't it a bit disgusting that our leftover food is feeding the hungry? It makes us feel like gluttonous pigs and makes us want to fork over some food for the homeless like RIGHT NOW.