Hunger Awareness Month
The
Peoria Area Food Bank operates under the umbrella of Peoria Citizen’s Committee
for Economic Opportunity, Inc., a community action agency, and is a member of
Feeding America {formerly America’s Second Harvest} the nations largest hunger
relief organization and Feeding Illinois, a state organization serving Central
Illinois.
The
Food Bank was formed in 1984 to supplement the dietary and nutritional needs of
low-income families living in the eight surrounding counties we serve, which
are Tazewell, Peoria, Fulton, Woodford, McLean, DeWitt, Mason, and Livingston.
We
provide over 112 active food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters,
rehabilitation centers, senior housing, youth detention centers and low income
day care centers with large quantities of food from name brand manufacturers.
We
rely heavily on corporate manufacturers, some government funding, individual
gifting, and local food drives throughout the year for food donations. The Food
Bank also participates in two large can-a-thons during the year, the Peoria
Area Anti-Hunger Coalition Food Drive and the National Letter Carrier’s
Can-A-Thon. As a member of Feeding America we are able to participate in grant
opportunities made available to us.
In
2009, the Food Bank distributed 3,000,214 pounds of food; this represents a
1,087,157 pound increase in food distribution compared to 2008. It is the food
bank’s goal to distribute 3.5 million pounds of food by the end of 2010; and 5
million pounds over the next 3 years. This will be accomplished with the help
of our many member agencies who are staffed mostly by volunteers.
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