Cook County Farm Bureau® and Partners Raise Cash, Food, and Hygiene Product Donations for Local Food Pantries
Cook County Farm Bureau® and Partners Raise Cash, Food, and Hygiene Product Donations for Local Food Pantries
Cook County Farm Bureau® Celebrates its 24th Annual Food Checkout Day
Together with various partners, Cook County Farm Bureau® donated much needed food staples to four Cook County food pantries. Donations were raised in celebration of Food Checkout Day. Food Checkout Day celebrates the healthy and nutritious food local farmers grow and raise by providing food or cash donations to people in need.
Over $8,000 was donated to local Cook County pantries in celebration of Food Checkout Day this year and the healthy and nutritious food grown and raised by local farmers. The donations directly benefited the one in seven individuals in Cook County who are hungry.
In addition to traditional food donations, Cook County Farm Bureau’s Young Leader Committee hosted their first hygiene product drive. Members and leaders donated personal care items including toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, and lotion.
Partner food pantries, Common Pantry, Chicago; Schaumburg Barn, Schaumburg; Share Food Share Love, Brookfield; and Tinley Park Food Pantry, Tinley Park were selected by local representatives from COUNTRY Financial®. Representatives were from the following COUNTRY Financial agencies: Chicago North, Chicago South, Chicago Northwest, and Orland Park respectively.
“Cook County and Illinois farmers are committed to growing safe and nutritious food for our families and for others,” said Janet McCabe, President of Cook County Farm Bureau. “Food Checkout Day allows us to recognize the importance of healthy, nutritious food while supporting local families in need, especially during this time of elevated food prices.”
For 20 years, Cook County Farm Bureau partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Through the generosity of partners for nearly two decades, Farm Bureau donated over $145,000 and nearly 100,000 pounds of food.
In 2012, and again in 2021, Farm Bureau’s food pantry efforts were named a Summit Award winner by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The Summit Award recognizes the positive impact that non-profit associations have on their community.
Thank you to the following individuals who donated cash:
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Hygiene Products Drive Biernacki Family Jennifer Miller Katrina Milton Bob Rohrer Susan Schumer
Common Pantry Emily Abarquez Kathy Engert
Schaumburg Barn Larry and Sharon Barr Mary Ann Belmonte Ray Massie
Share Food Share Love Bob Rohrer Joseph Sasso |
Tinley Park Food Pantry Jim Andresen Linda Bosy Laura Elkins Dave Forrester Tom Geraghty Tim Hartnell Kyle Hastings Candance Jablonski Karen Kavalas Michael Kelty Terry LaMastus Donna Nykaza-Jones Marion Palumbo Jim Parthemore Eileen Rodger Cary Tate Mike Thauer Susan Schumer Piero Setta Mike Spadoni Erica Storrs Gray Samantha Zengri |
Thank you to all the members, supporters, and COUNTRY Financial representatives who donated non-perishable food items.
Food Checkout Day is possible only through the efforts of volunteers, including Farm Bureau leadership and committee members and Chicago North, Chicago South, Northwest, and Orland Park COUNTRY Financial representatives and staff members. Volunteers were integral to the success of the shopping spree portion of Food Checkout Day.
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Karina Alcala, COUNTRY Financial Chicago North Agency Yubana Alvarez, COUNTRY Financial Chicago South Agency Jim Andresen, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency Dan Biernacki Karen Biernacki Rebecca Biernacki Bryan Blau Linda Bosy Laura Elkins, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency Jamie Granholm, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency Bona Heinsohn Matt Huonder, COUNTRY Financial Chicago Northwest Agency Joanna Kapica, COUNTRY Financial Chicago South Agency |
Gerry Kopping Linda Kopping Roberto Martinez, COUNTRY Financial Chicago North Agency Janet McCabe Liana Mierendorf, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency Alonzo Nevarez Jr., COUNTRY Financial Chicago South Agency Tino Ramirez, COUNTRY Financial Chicago Northwest Agency Bob Rohrer Mike Rauch Ciria Serrano, COUNTRY Financial Chicago North Agency Sharon Stemke, COUNTRY Financial Northeast Agency Linda Tobias Diane Tom, COUNTRY Financial Chicago Northwest Agency Lisa Zielinski, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency |
As the county’s largest general farm organization, Cook County Farm Bureau® is dedicated to bridging the gap between farmers and urban consumers. Through education programs targeting youth and their parents and programs designed to connect farmers with potential consumers, Farm Bureau members are actively engaging in conversations about food and the shared values between farmers and consumers.