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Health & Fitness

Beef4Hunger Doubles Monthly Deliveries of Fresh Food - Adds Greater Chicago Food Depository as Distribution Partner

Lake Forest-based nonprofit implements a new growth strategy to serve more local children with food insecurities.

Beef4Hunger, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high protein, fresh beef meals to people in need, is expanding its reach by beginning monthly donations to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

In order to accommodate the second food bank, Beef4Hunger increased its donations in May from 2,112 to 4,224 of fresh beef meals per month.

“We are pleased to announce the launch of the Greater Chicago Food Depository as our newest partner in the Beef4Hunger program,” said Greg Barnum, founder and president of Beef4Hunger. “To date, we have already donated more than 40,000 fresh beef meals to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. With the addition of a second food bank, we will exceed our goal to provide 75,000 fresh beef meals served by year's end. All of this has been possible because of the overwhelming support of donors, volunteers, board, and sponsors.” 

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As part of Beef4Hunger’s growth strategy, the Lake Forest, Ill.-based organization has sought to partner with food banks that serve communities in which child food insecurity is greater than 25 percent.

The Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) provides food to more than 500,000 people in Lake County and northern Illinois. Among the clients served by NIFB, 48 percent are children under 18.

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New partner Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) serves more than 797,000 people in Cook County. Children under the age of 18 make up 37 percent of GCFD’s clientele.

“We are thrilled to be able to serve those children, families, individuals and seniors closest to our immediate area,” Barnum said.

Beef4Hunger started its fight against hunger in late 2011 by donating fresh beef and a freezer to the Shields Township food pantry in Lake Bluff. In 2012, Beef4Hunger donated 6,104 fresh beef meals to the Northern Illinois Food Bank and Shields Township food pantry. In 2013, Beef4Hunger surpassed its yearly goal of donating 25,000 fresh beef meals. Long term, Beef4Hunger plans to provide fresh beef to all 202 food banks in America.

Beef4Hunger is privately funded through generous donations from individuals, family foundations, caring corporations and others. Beef4Hunger is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. An all-community fundraiser is planned for September 6, 2014.

To learn more, visit http://www.Beef4Hunger.org.

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