The Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) is a nonprofit organization that is fighting hunger in Cook County, Illinois. GCFD distributes donated food and is purchased through a network of 700 food pantry, community kitchens, shelters and community programs, serving more than 800,000 adults and children every year. In fiscal year 2016, GCFD distributes over 70 million pounds of non-perishable foods, yields, dairy products, and meat - equivalent to more than 160,000 meals daily. Of the $ 96,883,955 spent in 2016, over 90% went to direct food distribution programs.
GCFD is a charter member of Feeding America, a national food bank network.
Video Greater Chicago Food Depository
Histori
The Greater Chicago Food Depository was founded in 1979 by Tom O'Connell, Robert W. Strube Sr., Pdt. Philip Marquard, Gertrude Snodgrass, Ann Connors and Ed Sunshine. After an increase in poverty in the Chicago area, six founders were inspired to start food banks. They follow the example of John van Hengel, who started the first food bank in Phoenix, Arizona. However, due to the Illinois law prohibiting the use of the word 'bank' on behalf of non-banking entities, the name 'storage' is selected.
A year after incorporation, the Greater Chicago Food Depository opened their doors at the South Chicago Water Market. Major contributors include the City of Chicago, which provided early grants, as well as the Celery Strub and Vegetable Companies, which donated the warehouse space. At the end of the first year, the GCFD distributed 471,000 pounds of food from 22 food donors to 85 institutions.
Food supplies grew in 1981 when Illinois legislators passed the Good Samaritan law, which protected the donors from legal liability. Within a year, food donors increased to 111, distribution to 6.1 million pounds and agency to 375. The growing food bank settled in a 91,000 square foot facility (8,454 m 2 ) at 4501 South Tripp Avenue on year 1984.
In 1986, the GCFD established the Perishable Food Program, now known as Food Rescue, with a grant from the Chicago Community Trust. This program collects and distributes unused food from restaurants and catering to the soup kitchen. This depository further expanded its distribution in 1993 with new programs. The Produce People Share Program addresses the need for fresh fruits and vegetables in the community, and Kafe Children first start serving hot meals after school for low-income children.
In 1998, the GCFD distribution reached 25 million pounds. That same year, the food bank set up Chicago Community Kitchens, a free 12-week culinary training program for unemployed and underemployed adults. In 2001, the first Producemobile, a farmer's market on wheels, began distributing fresh produce to low-income communities.
The GCFD acquired a new warehouse and training center, in 2004, allowing them to double their food distribution capacity. The 268,000 square foot facility (24,900 m 2 ) is located in Archer Heights, Chicago, and remains the GCFD headquarters today. In addition to increased storage space, this facility hosts an administrative and training program such as Pantry University, which began in the same year.
Maps Greater Chicago Food Depository
Organizational Structure
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is headed by the Leadership Team, Board of Directors, and Board of Associations. The L Leadership Team consists of CEO/Executive Director, Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President of Operations, Chief Financial Officer, Chief People Officer, Vice President of Community Impact and Vice President of Development. The Board of Directors consists of local business leaders in various industries. The Associate Board , launched in 2014, is led by two co-chairs. The board consists of more than 100 young volunteers of business professionals interested in helping the mission of the organization further. As of November 2017, there were 138 GCFD employees, as well as 23,594 volunteers. The administrative fee is $ 5,680,478 per year, about 5% of total expenses.
Program
Producemobile
In 2001, GCFD launched Producemobile, a beverage-style truck that delivers donated food directly to individuals in Chicago every week. Many of these people live in areas where products are difficult or expensive to obtain. The second producemobile was added in 2005, and finally got to Evanston.
Mobile Pantry
The Mobile Pantry program was launched in 2007, and distributes food to over twelve sites each month. These sites are located in areas with high levels of poverty and low food aid from the GCFD, according to the Cook District Needs Study 2006. In addition, the program provides food at night and on weekends to provide assistance to more people.
Hunger Walk
In 1985, the GCFD hosted Hunger Walk, an event that helped raise awareness about hunger and support the GCFD. By 2017, it was reported that over 12,000 people participated in their 32nd annual Hunger Walk in Jackson Park, Chicago. The Hunger Walk reaches 2 miles, and through revenue from this event, the GCFD can fund several of their partner institutions for a full year.
Food Rescue
Since 1987, the GCFD Food Rescue program has been restoring fast food and durable, such as meat, dairy products, baked goods and products, which may have been wasted. Using refrigerated trucks, state-certified Rescue riders in food handling and sanitation - collect surplus food at grocery stores, restaurants, catering food businesses, and cafeterias. These donations are then sent to homes, common kitchens, and shelters to put in their meal plans.
Kids Cafe
Kids Cafe program is a national initiative of Feeding America and is managed locally by GCFD. Since 1993, the Food Store Kids Cafe has partnered with after-school programs to provide warm meals, study guidance, and other educational programs for children. The Food Depository has launched 44 Children's Cafes, serving more than 2,500 children every day.
Old Adult Program
The GCFD Old Adult Program was officially launched, in May 2006, to meet the needs of low income elderly people. This program provides fresh produce to seniors at the 80 Chicago Housing Authority complex, the US Urban Housing and Development site, and other locations in Cook County. Of the 812,000 people who depend on food from the Food Depository and its member network each year, 18 percent are older adults.
Veteran program
The GCFD serves hundreds of veterans on a weekly basis, estimated between 125 and 175 veterans. GCFD has two special parlors used to serve veterans, located in VA Hospitals in Cook County at Jesse Brown and at Hines. When combined, the two institutions can provide assistance to some 88,000 veterans. In addition to food, GCFD gives veterans other needs such as long clothing, socks, bags, and sleeping bags.
Lunch Bus
The GCFD lunch bus initiative provides meals for children, who are eligible for free or reduced food prices at school, throughout the school year and summer. There are a total of 4 lunch buses with 24 stops from Little Village to South Holland area. The lunch bus serves kids sandwiches and milk, both during the school year and summer.
Fresh Truck
The Fresh Truck is a mobile program started by GCFD and Cook County Health and Hospitals System in 2015. It started, as a pilot program, as a way of providing healthy food for people who can not get enough food because of the location and/or source power. Doctors, in hospitals, write people, who need healthier nutrition in their diet, "recipes" they can then bring to fresh truck and ransom for fresh fruits and vegetables. This service is also available to the general public at certain times, when people can go and get fresh fruits and vegetables from fresh trucks without a prescription.
Education and Training
Community of Chicago Community
Founded in 1998, Chicago's Community Kitchens is a 14-week free culinary training program for people with job barriers such as arrest records or lack of job history. The program, located at GCFD, prepares students for a career in food service by giving them a solid foundation in food preparation. Students spend the first 12 weeks of training and the last two weeks working, as interns, in a professional kitchen. The program has a job placement rate of 90%, and graduates have managed to find employment in some of Chicago's top restaurants. GCFD has also helped students, programs, with transportation when they are enrolled in the program.
Pantan University
Founded in 2004, Pantry University is a GCFD training program for members of the orphanage, communal kitchen, and shelter. Pantry University is dedicated to building the capacity of partner member agencies by providing training and educational workshops on topics such as grant writing, budgeting, and volunteer management. Pantry University has offered courses at GCFD as well as in community colleges, neighborhood centers, and agency sites throughout Cook County.
Client workshops and classes range from food security and sanitation, nutrition, fundraising, grant writing, budget creation and maintenance to operational best practices. All classes are taught by Food Depository staff, agency representatives, and skilled practitioners who have knowledge in their topic areas.
Partnership
GCFD is supported, in part, by corporate sponsors. In particular, many Chicago metropolitan food suppliers donate directly to the GCFD. Companies that have donated or contributed to GCFD include Starbucks, Buddig & amp; Companies, Tyson Foods, Jewel-Osco, Smithfield Foods, and Gotham Greens. In addition, the GCFD has partnered with Cook County to find ways to reduce food insecurity by providing fruits and vegetables to more than 760,000 affected people.
See also
- Food Insecurity
- Non-profit organization based in Chicago
References
External links
- Greater Chicago Food Storage
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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