Food Connection
NORTHWEST COMPASS Food Connection program assists our neighbors who are unable to provide enough food for themselves and their families with perishable and non-perishable food items to supplement their food budget.
According to a recent US census, Cook County enjoys a median household income of more than $55000 and only 16% of residents live in poverty…and yet hunger and food insecurity are present in every community across the Northwest suburbs, plaguing many of our neighbors. Here we set the record straight about some of the most common misconceptions related to food insecurity:
Everyone in Cook County has enough to eat. While Cook County boasts some of Illinois’ wealthiest communities, the Map the Meal Gap Study by Feeding America reveals that 1 in 7 Cook County residents may face food insecurity this year.
Food Insecurity only affects those living below the poverty level. While there is an undeniable correlation between hunger and poverty, other factors such as lack of access to transportation and health problems also contribute.
Nobody really has to choose between filling prescriptions and feeding their family. In fact, making the tough call between buying food and paying for other basic necessities such as healthcare is an unfortunate reality for some of our neighbors.
All food insecure households qualify for federal assistance. Some of our neighbors rely on Northwest Compass Food Connection to provide healthy food for their families precisely because they do not qualify for federal nutrition assistance programs.
Everyone who uses a food pantry is homeless or unemployed. Hunger does not discriminate and in fact many of our single parent, retired, veteran and working poor neighbors rely on Northwest Compass to help them augment their food budgets while still meeting daily obligations for themselves and their families.
Generous volunteers work alongside the caring and compassionate staff of Northwest Compass Food Connection to help end hunger and food insecurity in our community by connecting our neighbors in crisis with services such as:
- Assist our neighbors in and around Chicago’s Northwest suburbs who are unable to provide enough food for themselves and their families with perishable and non-perishable food items to supplement their food budget
- Provide information and benefits counseling to connect clients to other mainstream programs and agencies for additional support, such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program)
- Provide information and education regarding nutrition, healthy diet and saving money on groceries
- Network with area food pantries to support their service
- Reduce hunger locally
- Provide hunger relief to a greater number of clients and improve the nutritional value of food distributed
- Help support food security* for our neighbors
- Make information and resources available to those struggling to provide food for themselves and their families
- Make information and education available to help families save money on groceries
Hunger in the US is defined as one’s inability to obtain sufficient food for their household. People skip meals, cut back on the quality or quantity of meals, and may potentially suffer malnutrition over time.
Food Security is defined by the USDA as “all people in a household having enough food for an active, healthy life at all times.”
NORTHWEST COMPASS FOOD CONNECTION services are offered free of charge to eligible clients. Training is available and volunteers are needed.
If you would like to help us support our neighbors in the Northwest suburbs through crisis, please Donate today. Northwest Compass is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your gift is tax deductible as allowed by law.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact [email protected] or visit our Get Involved page to learn about available opportunities.
Please contact [email protected] or call +1 847 392 2344 today.
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