Beyond Hunger

Spend this Hunger Action Month volunteering with us! We are hosting two volunteer orientations this September instead of one to provide an extra opportunity to get involved with Beyond Hunger. Orientations are only an hour long and virtual via Zoom. Visit the link in our bio for more information! #GoBeyondHunger #HungerActionMonth #volunteer #donate #advocate #endhungernow

It's #ThankfulThursday, and a wonderful time to highlight the generosity of Austin Fresh and the recent grant we received from their team. With this grant, our Home Delivery crew has been able to start outreaching to local vendors and growers in the Austin community. Because of this grant, we are currently purchasing 30% of our fresh produce in Austin, and are even able to rescue leftover produce at the end of each market week for our food pantry. Thank you, Austin Fresh, for helping us create these connections and build the foundation for a hunger-free future that is local and community-focused 🥬! #GoBeyondHunger #endhungernow #AustinFresh #buylocal #bipocgrowers #austin

SNAP benefit theft victimizes people who are low-income who rely on these benefits to feed their families. In 2022, Congress took action to provide replacement of stolen SNAP benefits. In the second half of 2023 alone, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) returned more than $8 million in stolen SNAP benefits to nearly 16,000 Illinois households. Unfortunately, the law only covers benefits that are stolen until September 30, 2024, unless Congress takes action now. Our CEO has sent a letter to our Member of Congress and Senators to extend SNAP benefit replacement for victims of skimming, and you can too! Use the link in our bio to contact Congress and make a difference. #GoBeyondHunger #advocate #snap #snapadvocacy #HungerActionMonth #endhungernow

How can you get involved with #HungerActionMonth (HAM)? 🔗 Use the link in our bio to browse our HAM resource library, featuring book lists on food insecurity, HAM events in Chicago, and more! 🥫 Visit Feeding America and their HAM calendar, highlighting videos, articles, and more on HAM. 🧡 Make sure to wear your orange on Hunger Action Day (September 10) to spread awareness about hunger and food insecurity in our community.

We hope everyone had a relaxing Labor Day weekend! Our team is geared up and ready for #HungerActionMonth. Stick with us throughout September as we raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity in our communities. Learn more using the link in our bio! #GoBeyondHunger #endhungernow

We have news about our amazing staff! 🏠 Tamiko (top right) has transitioned from being our fantastic Pantry Programs Assistant to our full-time Programs Assistant. This means she will be working directly with our Home Delivery program managing client relations, overall quality, and more. 🧺 David (bottom right) has transitioned into the role of Food Procurement and Pantry Assistant. He is already doing a wonderful job, playing a key role in securing new partnerships as we expand our food rescue program and making sure our pantry operations are efficient and handled with care. 🥫 Meet Sam (top left), our new Home Delivery Assistant! Sam is going above and beyond with our HD team by delivering packaged groceries to clients and supporting HD staff as they collaborate with volunteers, purchase food, and more. 🍎 Meet Randy (middle left), our new Pantry Programs Assistant! Randy is working with our Pantry team to support the Rescue Program, Despensa Program, and our 2 weekly food distributions. He helps maintain a welcoming and warm environment for volunteers and pantry visitors. 🍽️ Meet Emily (bottom left), our Community Nutrition Program Specialist, who will be with us for the next year through the VISTA program. Emily will primarily work with our Nutrition Education, Home Delivery, and Food Pantry programs, and she is a Registered Dietitian (RDN LDN). Join us in welcoming and congratulating our rockstar staff as they take on their new roles, and be sure to say hi to our new faces the next time you see them! #GoBeyondHunger #staff #newstaff #endhungernow

A couple weeks ago, our Development team got the opportunity to volunteer at the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD), Chicago's largest food bank! GCFD is Chicago's largest food bank, and distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 700+ soup kitchens, shelters, community programs, and food banks (including Beyond Hunger!). During our team's volunteer shift, we packed 4,000 pounds of pasta that will go out to this network of partners, and eventually land on the tables of individuals and families to provide a warm meal. #GoBeyondHunger #GreaterChicagoFoodDepository #GCFD #endhungernow #volunteer #donate #advocate

Although the heat is exceptionally hot this week, fall is just around the corner, which means so is Hunger Action Month (HAM)! We will be spending the month of September raising awareness about hunger and food insecurity, and encourage you to join us in spreading the word. How can you get involved ⬇️? 🔗 Connect by keeping up with us on social media, utilizing our H.A.M. toolkit, signing up for advocacy alerts, and wearing your orange on Hunger Action Day (September 10) ❤️ Donate food by checking out our most-needed food items list, or funds by creating your own fundraiser or becoming a monthly donor to help families all year long 🛒 Volunteer by attending an orientation (September 11 and 25), signing up for a shift, or answering a Volunteer S.O.S. email! 🌃 Attend an event that we'll be at, like Oaktoberfest on September 13! #GoBeyondHunger #HungerActionMonth #volunteer #advocate #donate #endhungernow

Our Nutrition Education & Benefits Services Manager, Bri, got a chance to sit down with Fox 32 Chicago and talk about Beyond Hunger and the upcoming Food Aid Festival happening THIS WEEKEND! Join us at Robert's Westside on August 23 and 24 for back-to-back evenings of live music and giving back. You can show your support the amazing musicians AND local organizations combating food insecurity (including Beyond Hunger). Learn more at www.foodaidfestival.com A big thank you to Fox 32 for sitting down with us, and everyone making the Food Aid Festival possible. #GoBeyondHunger #fox32 #donate #advocate #concert #weekend #endhungernow