In recognition of Hunger Action Month, Jump for Food hosted “Hunger Hits Home,” a panel discussion on hunger and poverty in the western suburbs on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at Benedictine University. Congressman, Bill Foster, provided opening remarks and commended the organizations present for their daily work serving and empowering food insecure families. The panelists were local hunger relief experts: Julie Yurko, President & CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank (Geneva); Megan Selck, President & CEO of Loaves & Fishes Community Services (Naperville); and Eric Gardner, Development Director of West Suburban Community Pantry (Woodridge).
“This is about working together to solve a public health crisis,” said Megan Selck. “Partnering makes all of us stronger.”
“Events like this help create a dialogue about hunger in our local communities,” said Julie Yurko, of Northern Illinois Food Bank. “We appreciate any opportunity we have to spread the word about how the Food Bank’s network is working to solve hunger and how everyone can get involved.”
Hunger Action Month is a national campaign by Feeding America. The first Thursday of September is “Go Orange Day” so panelists and attendees were dressed in orange to support Hunger Action and posing for “spoon selfies” as a way to mobilize social media resources for hunger awareness. “I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the students and the community about hunger,” said Eric Gardner, of West Suburban Community Pantry. “I am truly excited to see the enthusiasm of the students to help make an impact on hunger in DuPage County.”
The event was hosted by Jump for Food, a coalition comprised of Loaves & Fishes Community Services, Northern Illinois Food Bank and Launch Digital Marketing. The group is hosting Hunger Action Month events in the Naperville area throughout the month. Stay updated by following Loaves & Fishes or Jump for Food on Facebook!