The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in our community. The Food Depository makes a daily impact across Cook County by supporting a network of 700 local agencies and programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and partnerships to provide food for children, families, older adults and veterans. Last year, the Food Depository distributed the equivalent of 60 million meals for our neighbors in need while offering innovative programs to address the root causes of hunger.
Children are disproportionately affected by hunger. Nearly 1 in 5 children in Chicago struggle to get their next meal. The effects of child hunger are devastating to the health, education and economic potential of families and neighborhoods across our community. Solutions to child hunger are simple and within reach. With increased awareness, additional support and a collective will to reach every child in need, we can change this reality.
The Food Depository fights child hunger year-round by reaching kids with nutritious food where they live, learn and play. Summer and after-school meal programs including Kids Cafes and the Lunch Bus provide healthy meals at parks, libraries and community organizations. Healthy Student Markets offer free fresh produce and other nutritious food to children and families at schools in priority communities. The Food Depository also works to address the root causes of hunger though awareness and advocacy.
Ride the River is a 2,500 mile bicycle ride from the Canadian border to the Gulf of Mexico, following the Mississippi River, to raise funds and awareness to fight child hunger in Chicago. With a goal to raise $1 million, this ride aims to collect enough funds for the Greater Chicago Food Depository to distribute 3 million meals for Chicago children in need. At the same time, the ride will shine a light on the sobering reality of child hunger in our community, encouraging more people to take action.
By the Numbers
More than 203,000 children in Cook County are at risk of hunger. That’s nearly 1 in 5 kids who don’t have enough food to grow up healthy and strong.
2,500 miles = 13,200,000 feet
$1 million = 3 million meals
Every mile cycled = 1,200 meals
To reach $1 million, we need $400 per mile
