Evanston Rotary to Focus on Food Insecurity

Evanston, Ill. (May 31, 2019) – Following a year of exploring key issues facing our community, the Rotary Club of Evanston has identified food insecurity as its signature focus for the next few years.

“The issue of food insecurity spans across all other issues in the community. It affects people of all ages, it contributes to the achievement gap in schools, and it is a basic human need,” says club president, Michele Berg. “Members of the Rotary Club of Evanston felt we could have an impact in addressing this issue.”

Through discussions and research conducted in collaboration with the Evanston Community Foundation and other local organizations, the club spent the past few months exploring various issues including the opportunity gap, food insecurity, and aging.

The club held discussion and topical programs to educate members. The exploratory stage culminated with the club’s public forum on 8 May at One Rotary Center to hear from local experts in the three areas.

“Moderated by Dr. Gilo Logan, the panel brought out some challenging statistics and, yet, hopeful stories of the many community organizations committed to making Evanston the extraordinary place we call home,” notes club member Dick Peach.

On 16 May, the club voted to focus its efforts on food insecurity and will now identify ways to contribute to Evanston. “We will now work on the details to bring this to life in our club,” Berg adds. “Stay tuned!”

The Rotary Club of Evanston helps our community through hands-on volunteer work and raising funds to support local projects and global causes. Members have helped build homes for low-income families, cleaned-up beaches, packed backpacks and delivered meals to the needy while contributing their time and talent to a host of Evanston organizations. The club has also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for not-for-profit organizations, helping Evanston to address pressing issues from illiteracy to HIV/AIDS to homelessness, poverty, and gang violence. For more information, visit evanstonrotary.org.

Rotary International, with its World Headquarters based in downtown Evanston, brings together a global network of volunteers dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.3 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Our work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.