CCFB News» March 2025

Together with various partners, Cook County Farm Bureau® donated much needed food staples to two 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.

 

Nearly $5,000 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, Hattie B. Williams Food Pantry of Oak Forest and Maine Township Food Pantry of Park Ridge received non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products as part of Food Checkout Day 2025.

 

“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:

 

Hattie B. Williams Food Pantry

Jim Andresen

Linda Bosy

Laura Elkins

Kevin Gomes

Bona Heinsohn

Joyce Kelly

Liana Mierendorf

Susan and Michael Schumer

 

Maine Township Food Pantry

Kevin Gomes

Laura Honig

Malgorzata Jura

Bob Rohrer

Diane Tom

 

Young Leader Hygiene Products Drive

Laura Elkins

Kevin Gomes

Bona Heinsohn

Kieth and Karen Kouba

Angela McCrum

Jennifer Miller

Mary Kay Nielsen

Bob Rohrer

Robin Scheldberg

Shur Way Movers

Pete Soltesz and Kim Kulton

Carmen Trotta

Doug Yunker

 

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 COUNTRY Financial representatives and staff members. Volunteers were integral to the success of the shopping spree portion of Food Checkout Day.

 

Volunteers

Jim Andresen, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Dan Biernacki

Karen Biernacki

Bryan Blau

Laura Elkins, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Sherry Grande

Jamie Granholm, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Bona Heinsohn

Blake Lanphier

Janet McCabe

Amanda McManus, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Michelle Peterson, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Tino Ramirez, COUNTRY Financial Chicago Northwest Agency

Bob Rohrer

Mike Rauch

Sharon Stemke, COUNTRY Financial Chicago South Agency

Diane Tom, COUNTRY Financial Chicago Northwest Agency

Doug Yunker

Mark Yunker

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.