Cook County Farm Bureau to Support Cook County Families and Food Pantries as Part of Food Checkout Day 2021
In celebration of the healthy and nutritious food grown and raised by local farmers, Cook County Farm Bureau® members and partners are supporting local families and food pantries.
Farm Bureau members who wish to donate to a local food pantry in celebration of Food Checkout Day are asked to complete the form below and to designate the food pantry that their donation and Cook CFB’s match is for. The food pantry selected must be a registered 501(c)3. A total of $1,000 has been allocated for this program. All donations will be considered part of Food Checkout Day.
In addition, Cook County Farm Bureau is partnering with six food pantries for Food Checkout Day. The food pantries are selected by our partners at COUNTRY Financial.
Meet our Partner Food Pantries
Alicia’s House, South Chicago Heights: Selected by representatives from the South Holland COUNTRY Financial Agency, Alicia’s House Food Pantry, is dedicated to Alicia who loved people and loved helping people. She would spend hours working with her Grandma Stella at the church food pantry, making bags of food to hand out to people in need. Although her Grandma had a specific way to nutritionally pack the bags, Alicia would always add her special touch by making sure each bag would contain a special treat, usually candy. To honor the memory of Alicia who passed away at the age of four, Grandma Stella and Poppy Juan started Alicia's House. Alicia's House feeds hundreds of hungry families and each bag of food contains Alicia's special loving touch. Alicia’s House serves the communities of Beecher, Crete, Steger, Peotone, University Park, Monee, and South Chicago Heights.
Lakeview Pantry, Chicago: Selected by representatives from the Chicago North COUNTRY Financial Agency, Lakeview Pantry is Chicago’s largest and longest-operating food pantry. Lakeview Pantry’s mission is to eliminate hunger and poverty in their communities by providing food to fill the basic need of hungry people, empowering clients to achieve independence through social service programming, and raising awareness of hunger and poverty. Lakeview Pantry experienced a 400% increase in demand when COVID-19 hit Chicago and anticipates another surge in the coming winter months. The Pantry is on track to provide 5 million meals in Chicago this year.
Orland Township Food Pantry, Orland Park: Selected by representatives from the Orland Park COUNTRY Financial Agency, the Orland Township Food Pantry supplies food to low income residents residing in Orland Hills, Orland Park, and parts of Tinley Park who need immediate assistance. Since 2009, the food pantry has expanded to more than 2,200 square feet and houses a walk-in freezer, walk-in refrigerator, reach in-freezers, reach-in refrigerators, and aisles of non-perishable food items. The food pantry now assists more than 300 families per month.
Schaumburg Township Food Pantry, Hoffman Estates: Selected by representatives from the Chicago Northwest COUNTRY Financial Agency. For over 40 years the Schaumburg Township Food Pantry has been serving residents in Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Elk Grove, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, and Hanover Park. The Schaumburg Township Food Pantry is a client choice pantry meaning that clients can shop for and select their items from a variety of shelf stable, fresh, and freezer items as well as produce and personal items. The 100% donation-based program is currently serving over 800 households per month.
Wheeling Township Food Pantry, Arlington Heights Selected by representatives from the Chicago Northeast COUNTRY Financial Agency, the Wheeling Township Food Pantry serves residents in all or portions of Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Des Plaines, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Rolling Meadow, Prospect Heights, and Wheeling. Food pantry distributions are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays and include shelf stable items such as beans, cereal, meat products, pasta, soup and vegetables.
Donations can be made by credit card by calling the Farm Bureau office at 708-354-3276 or by mailing in the form below with a check. Donations will be accepted until January 29, 2021.