February 01, 2012

Y Collects Healthy Food for a Great Cause

Overflowing bins of food were a common sight at Ys across the city in January as the entire YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago network teamed up in a week-long, Metro-wide food drive starting on Martin Luther King Jr., Day.

In all, the Y’s 25 member centers, many childcare locations and hundreds of extension sites collected 6,161 pounds of healthy food.

The food drive benefited the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) and the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Because of the Y’s commitment to healthy living through nutrition and physical activity programs, policies and initiatives, healthy foods were sought for this drive. The Y community stepped up to the challenge.

“The Y transforms lives and communities, our staff and members’ response to the MLK Food Drive is proof of that,” said Fran Bell, vice president of diversity and inclusion, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. “The need in our communities is great, and we are so appreciative for all of those who decided to give.”

King’s philosophy was one of inclusion, particularly including those less fortunate. According to the GCFD, nearly 142,000 hungry men, women and children rely on the Food Depository every week, with 37 percent of those served being children. Northern Illinois Food Bank will serve more than 500,000 people this year across its 13-county service area, up 168 percent from 2006.