Northern Illinois Food Bank

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK?S MISSION IS TO LEAD THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS COMMUNITY IN SOLVING HUNGER BY PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO THOSE IN NEED THROUGH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE HEALTHY FUTURES FOCUS AREA, BY INCREASING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD FOR THOSE IN POVERTY AND REDUCING THEIR RISK OF OBESITY. THE VISTA PROJECT SEEKS TO BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE FOOD BANK AND OUR NETWORK MEMBERS WITH A FOCUS ON PRIORITY COUNTIES, WHERE WE WISH TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF NUTRITIOUS FOOD WE ARE DISTRIBUTING TO THE FOOD-INSECURE POPULATION IN HIGH NEED COMMUNITIES. THE PROJECT WILL ENGAGE THE SUPPORT OF NEW CORPORATE AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR FINANCIAL AND IN-KIND SUPPORT, TARGET THE GROWING SENIOR POPULATION AT RISK OF HUNGER, SUPPORT OUR BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES STRATEGY, ENGAGE NEW VOLUNTEERS AND ENHANCE OUR INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS. THIS VISTA PROJECT WILL HELP US CONTINUE TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO MORE THAN 70,000 FOOD-INSECURE INDIVIDUALS, AS WE WORK TOWARDS OUR 2020 STRATEGIC GOAL OF MEETING THE MEAL GAP IN EVERY CORNER OF OUR 13 COUNTY SERVICE AREA. EIGHT FULL-YEAR VISTA MEMBERS AND SEVEN SUMMER VISTAS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS FOR NETWORK MEMBERS, OUTREACH TO NEW CORPORATE DONORS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, GRANT WRITING AND RESEARCH, COMMUNICATION ENHANCEMENTS, RESEARCH FOR NEW PROGRAMS AND ENGAGING ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS OVER THE COURSE OF THE ONE YEAR PROJECT.