More than a Bag of Food: Advocating for the Hungry
Mar 17, 2009
Hunger is not some abstract thing that happens “out there.” It is getting harder and harder for families right here in our community to make ends meet. Client visits to the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry in January and February, 2009 were up 79% from 2008 levels in those months. But thanks to an awesomely responsive community, we have been able to keep up with this staggering increase. Volunteers have put in more hours, grocers have given us their slightly blemished produce, community members and businesses have run food drives, and checks keep coming in to our mailbox. Together we have made it possible to continue giving out generous bags of nutritious food to all qualifying neighbors who seek our help.
But in the face of sky-rocketing need, we have to ask ourselves, is there something more than procuring and distributing food that we can do to provide hunger relief? The answer, of course, is yes. We can do more by using our voice and our skills to advocate on behalf of the hungry. Towards that end OPRF Food Pantry staff has begun participating in Food Stamp outreach with the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD). GCFD staffers screen Pantry clients on site for Food Stamp benefits. If eligible, the staff member helps the client complete an application for Food Stamps, thus allowing many hungry folks to access this vital federal program designed to assist in hunger relief.
Pantry Managers have begun communicating regularly with elected state officials informing them of the number of constituents being served by the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry. We will host elected officials at the Pantry in early April for an on-site demonstration of the services we provide.
In February, Pantry Operations Managers participated in a Lobby Day in Springfield organized by the Illinois Food Bank Association. During this daylong event, the managers met with several state senators and representatives asking them to be co-sponsors of the Illinois “Food for Families Program” (Senate Bill 2182). This bill will provide 1) quality, nutritious food to families in need, 2) fresh fruits and vegetables, 3) food for mobile pantries, and 4) food stamp outreach. What a sense of accomplishment we felt when we were admitted to senators’ offices, were able to call a representative out of session to discuss the bill, and received several promises of co-sponsorship!
The Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry will continue to provide not only food, but a voice for hungry individuals and families in Oak Park and surrounding communities in the coming year. We invite you to join us in enacting our mission: working together to provide hunger relief in our community.
Want to help? You can advocate on behalf of the hungry in Illinois with a simple phone call. Contact your state senator and representative, and ask him/her to support the Illinois “Food for Families Program.” To find your representative’s name and contact info, go to www.chicagosfoodbank.org and click on the Advocate button.