Cook CFB® and Partners Raise Cash, Food, and Hygiene Product Donations for Local Food Pantries
Cook CFB® and Partners Raise Cash, Food, and Hygiene Product Donations for Local Food Pantries 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 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 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.
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.
Thank you to the following individuals who donated cash:
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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
Maine Township Food Pantry Kevin Gomes • Laura Honig • Malgorzata Jura • Bob Rohrer • Diane Tom |
Hattie B. Williams Food Pantry Jim Andresen • Linda Bosy • Laura Elkins • Kevin Gomes • Bona Heinsohn • Joyce Kelly • Liana Mierendorf • Susan and Michael Schumer |
Thank you to all the volunteers
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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 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 Janet McCabe |
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.