Hello,
I&rsquo;m reaching out to introduce you to the Lake County Food Access Network (LCFAN)&mdash;a new local initiative being built from the ground up with one simple goal:
Help make it easier for people in Lake County to find food, find help, and find a way forward.
It is an invitation to help build something.
Lake County is home to approximately 719,339 people across 258,455 households.
And behind the strength and prosperity of our community are neighbors who can still find themselves struggling with something as fundamental as putting food on the table.
Lake County's own published data estimates that, in 2021, 46,520 Lake County residents experienced food insecurity, including 9,340 children.
They are children.
Parents.
Grandparents.
Seniors.
People whose circumstances may have changed unexpectedly.
And people who may be quietly struggling without knowing where to begin.
The need is real&mdash;and Lake County already has an extraordinary network of people working to meet it.
Lake County's recovery-plan materials report that from April 2022 through March 2023, the Northern Illinois Food Bank served an average of 72,379 people every month in Lake County and provided more than 13.18 million meals during that 12-month period.
County materials also report that monthly mobile food markets at the College of Lake County and Cristo Rey in Waukegan serve approximately 500 households each, while additional community markets can serve up to 250 households.
And people are still actively reaching out for assistance.
According to the 211 Lake County FY2025 Annual Report, food was one of the major categories of need presented to the helpline. The report records 1,034 food-related needs, including requests involving food pantries, SNAP, soup kitchens, home-delivered meals, and formula or baby food. Food-pantries alone accounted for 438 requests.
That tells us something important:
Lake County has people who care.
And Lake County still has people who need help finding their way to those resources.
Our belief is simple: If someone is hungry, they should have a starting point.
If a parent needs groceries, finding assistance should not require navigating a maze of disconnected websites, phone numbers, eligibility rules, and organizations.
If a senior needs food assistance, there should be a clear path toward help.
If a community organization wants to help, there should be more opportunities to connect that help with people who need it.
We are working to build the partnerships, community relationships, outreach, resource coordination, communication systems, and infrastructure needed to become a dependable local resource.
We are currently raising $30,000 to help establish that foundation.





We are asking people to help us get noticed.
Because a new organization can have a powerful mission and still struggle if nobody knows it exists.
A donation can help us build.
A school, church, business or civic group can share our mission with its community.

A chance to be seen.
It is a story about food insecurity existing alongside one of the most substantial communities in Illinois.
It is a story about children and families who can disappear behind statistics.
And it is a story about a new grassroots initiative attempting to build another connection point within that existing network.
Any of those opportunities could introduce LCFAN to someone who becomes a volunteer, partner, donor, food-resource provider, advocate, or future supporter.
We would be genuinely grateful for the opportunity.
Donate toward our $30,000 launch goal.
Follow and share our Instagram so more Lake County residents can discover us.



GoFundMe:
<a href="https://gofund.me/85e2b7be8" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://gofund.me/85e2b7be8</a>
Instagram:
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lakecountyfoodaccessnetwork" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/lakecountyfoodaccessnetwork</a>
We understand that $30,000 can sound like a large number.
But we are not asking one person, one business, or one organization to carry this effort.
We are asking a community to participate in building it.
Maybe someone gives $10.
Maybe someone gives $100.
Maybe someone shares this message with 500 people.
That is precisely why we are reaching out.
Because somewhere in Lake County right now, there is a parent trying to stretch what is left in the kitchen until payday.
There is a child who deserves to be thinking about school, friends, and their future&mdash;not whether there will be enough food at home.
There is a senior trying to make a fixed income cover groceries and everything else.
There is a working family that never imagined it would need assistance.
There is someone who needs help but feels embarrassed to ask.
We want LCFAN to become a bridge between need and help.
And we cannot build that bridge alone.
So whether you donate, share, volunteer, partner, introduce us to someone, invite us to tell our story, publish a small spotlight, mention us in a newsletter, or simply take a moment to learn about what we are trying to build&mdash;
Thank you for considering us.
With gratitude,
Lake County Food Access Network (LCFAN)

Lake County

Amie Schaenzer

Chicago Metropolitan Area

Grayslake

Illinois

LCFAN: Lake County Food Access Network — Help...

LCFAN: Lake County Food Access Network — Help Us Put Food on the Table for Lake County Families Lake

Hello, I am reaching out to share information about a new Lake County nonprofit initiative that is working to address an important issue affecting thousands of local residents: food insecurity. Lake County Food Access Network (LCFAN) was created with one simple mission &mdash; to help make sure individuals and families throughout Lake County have access to food assistance and community resources when they need them most. Too many people in our community are being forced to make impossible choices between groceries, rent, utilities, transportation, medical expenses, and other basic needs. Behind every statistic is a real person: a parent trying to make sure their children eat, a senior stretching limited resources, a working family facing an unexpected hardship, or a neighbor who never imagined they would need help. The need in Lake County is significant. According to United Way of Lake County, using Feeding America&rsquo;s most recent estimates, approximately: &bull; 31,190 Lake County residents are experiencing food insecurity &bull; 7,350 children in Lake County are experiencing food insecurity &bull; Lake County faces an estimated $23.168 million annual food-budget shortfall &bull; Thousands of residents continue seeking food assistance and resource support each year LCFAN was created to help close that gap by building a trusted local food-access network focused on connecting residents with emergency groceries, pantry support, resource referrals, and practical assistance. Our vision is not to create another complicated system. Our goal is to build a bridge &mdash; connecting people facing food insecurity with the support, resources, organizations, and community members who can help. We are currently working to raise $30,000 to launch and strengthen LCFAN&rsquo;s efforts throughout Lake County through GoFundMe. These funds will help support outreach, emergency food assistance, community partnerships, resource coordination, and the ongoing work needed to make food assistance more accessible, respectful, and reliable. Please view Initiative: <a href="https://gofund.me/75017270e" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">https://gofund.me/75017270e</a> We are reaching out because we believe this is more than a fundraiser &mdash; it is a local community story.Lake County is a community with tremendous resources and compassionate people, but many families are still quietly struggling. LCFAN hopes to bring more awareness to this issue while creating another pathway for neighbors to help neighbors. We would be grateful for the opportunity to provide additional information, speak with a reporter or community representative, participate in an interview, or share our mission with your audience/community. We can provide:&bull; Information about LCFAN&rsquo;s mission and goals&bull; Nonprofit documentation and organizational details&bull; Fundraising campaign information&bull; Photos, graphics, and community materials&bull; Interviews or additional background information&bull; Updates as LCFAN grows and develops partnerships throughout Lake CountyWhether through a story, community announcement, partnership opportunity, or simply helping spread awareness, any support in sharing this mission would mean a great deal. Our goal is simple:No one in Lake County should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Lake County Food Access Network. We would appreciate the opportunity to work together to bring more awareness and support to families and individuals in our community who are facing food insecurity. Sincerely, Lake County Food Access Network (LCFAN) &ldquo;Help Us Put Food on the Table for Lake County Families&rdquo;

Story Opportunity: New Lake County Nonprofit...

Hello,I am reaching out to share information about a new Lake County nonprofit initiative that is working to address an important issue affecting...

Story Opportunity: New Lake County Nonprofit Launches Effort to Help Families Facing Food Insecurity

Libertyville

Vernon Hills

Lake Zurich

Rachel Barnes

Lake Forest-Lake Bluff

Eric DeGrechie

Buffalo Grove

Barrington

Deerfield

McHenry County

Crystal Lake-Cary

Cook County

Palatine

Highland Park

KidsUnited Mundelein, 424 E Hawley St, Mundelein, IL 60060

Need a night off? Drop your child off at KidsUnited Mundelein for an evening packed with fun, friends and excitement. Kids ages 4-12 will enjoy an action-filled night of soccer games, pizza dinner, creative crafts and interactive activities in a safe, energetic environment led by our experienced coaches. It's the perfect Saturday night for kids, and a well-deserved break for parents.When: Saturday, August 22, 5:00-8:00 PM. Ages: 4-12. Where: KidsUnited Mundelein, 424 E Hawley St, Mundelein.Pricing for members: $30 for the first child and $15 per sibling through August 10; $40 for the first child and $20 per sibling August 11-22. Non-members: $50 per child.Limited spots are available, so register early. Reserve free at the link below and we will call to confirm and collect payment. Questions? Call (847) 260-7101.

Local Event: Parents Night Out at KidsUnited Mundelein (Ages 4-12)

Mundelein

Parents Night Out at KidsUnited Mundelein (Ages...

Need a night off? Drop your child off at KidsUnited Mundelein for an evening packed with fun, friends and excitement. Kids ages...

Parents Night Out at KidsUnited Mundelein (Ages 4-12)

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