How to Help the GCFD Meet Increasing Need

Last night, I attended the Greater Chicago Food Depository's Bag Hunger auction. It was, as it is every year, a very fun event. Seeing old friends, hearing about GCFD programs, and picking up a $140 bottle of wine for a mere $25 in the mystery Wine Grab were some of the highlights for me! But I wanted to share a few items from the remarks that Executive Director Kate Maehr addressed to the crowd. She gave a few statistics that were really quite staggering.

Kate expressed the deep feeling of gratitude she and her staff feel for the donors and at this time, especially when last month the need increased by 38%. The month before that was up 20%. And the month before that was up 30%. She assured us that the money we contributed that night would help GCFD continue to give a strong response to this situation and urged us to spread the word about how people can be involved to make sure no one in Chicago goes hungry.

With that in mind, I want to remind Chicagoans of some things to engage you in the fight against hunger in our community. You can find help doing all of these activities at www.chicagosfoodbank.org

You can:
- Donate now on-line
- make a contribution at the check out when you see GCFD $1 or $5 vouchers at the grocery store cash register
- participate in or organize a food drive
- organize a virtual, on-line food drive
- Volunteer for a special event at GCFD like the June Hunger Walk
- volunteer for a re-pack session to break down bulk donations into usable amounts for hungry families
- Advocate and let elected officials know you support hunger relief programs (click on "Advocate" button)
- Contact the GCFD policy director and volunteer to go to their Lobby Day on Feb 25 to advocate in Springfield in person

Thank you!
ccyl

Bag Hunger Auction Oct 22

Act now to help the Greater Chicago Food Depository!

The 15th Annual Bag Hunger Auction is the premier culinary event of the season, and it's just two days away—Oct. 22.

Don't miss the chance to get your tickets so you can enjoy delicious cuisine prepared by Chicago's top chefs, while bidding on an array of auction items like these:

» Cubs Dream Day: Four field box tickets to a 2009 regular season game and pre-game photos on the field
» Hey, barkeep!: A guest spot as the bartender on WTTW's "Check, Please!"
» Kitchen makeover: Includes Electrolux appliances

Your ticket and auction purchases will help provide food for hungry people throughout Cook County.

Get your tickets here

"Bad Examples" Concert to benefit New Lenox Pantry 10/18

THE BAD EXAMPLES

THIS SATURDAY NIGHT! October 18th, 2008

Ralph Covert's rockin' band for adults will play their final outdoor show of the season:

Mayor Tim Baldermann's
BEER, BRATS & BONES BASH
Commons Park
1 Veterans Parkway
New Lenox, IL

This 21-and-over event starts at 4pm with the Examples performing soon after 7pm. There will be more live music earlier in the day. The park closes at 10pm. Beer, brats, and ribs available for purchase.

Admission is a food donation to the New Lenox Food Pantry. Collection of items will be onsite – no monetary donations will be accepted.

Attendees with the last name from A – M should bring a breakfast or lunch item
Attendees with the last name from N – Z should bring a lunch or dinner item

Suggested Breakfast Items:
Breakfast bars, boxed cereals such as Kellogg's Rice Krispies With Real Strawberries (TM ), Oatmeal

Suggested Lunch/Dinner Items:
Soups such as tomato, chicken noodle and vegetable (the Pantry has an excess of cream of chicken and cream of mushroom); canned tuna; mayonnaise; spaghetti and spaghetti sauce; Instant potato or rice dishes; canned chili, Saltine crackers, canned ravioli, peanut butter, jams and jellies.

For more details visit: http://www.newlenox.net/news.asp?id=167 or call Bonnie in Mayor Baldermann's office at 815-462-6425.

This is also part of the Daniel Pearl Music Days, part of an ongoing initiative for achieving world peace. For more information please visit:

http://www.danielpearlmusicdays.org/index.php

Are you a Ralph's World fan who doesn' t know The Bad Examples? Go to www.waterdogmusic.com to hear some of the music.