Food Drive for Thanksgiving - Please Donate

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and people are looking forward to their holiday plans. For many this means family getting together around a table filled with food. Unfortunately this is not the case for many people throughout Chicago and its surrounding suburbs due to the alarming amount of people that are food insecure. Rainbow International of South & West Suburbs and their business partners would like to do their part to help fight hunger with a Thanksgiving Food Drive, but they need your help.

Many of us do not worry about where we are going to get our next meal while people all around us are food insecure. Data from the Greater Food Depository of Chicago shows that more than 812,000 men, woman and children in just Cook County alone are food insecure. Because of local pantries and donations these people do not have to fight hunger alone.

If you are interested in assisting your neighbors in need please drop off your non perishable food donations at any of the following locations from November 6th - 19th, 2015:

· Keller Williams Realty - 16123 S La Grange Rd, Orland Park, IL 60467 (708) 798-1111

· State Farm – Paul Siano 8130 143rd St, Orland Park, IL 60462 (708) 966-4769

· State Farm – Joe Anello 7101 183rd St Ste 104, Tinley Park, IL 60477 (708) 781-1333

· Allstate – Lindsey Vitkauskas 13800 Cicero Ave, Crestwood, IL 60445 (708) 799-3090

· Allstate – Susan Semanate 15524 S Cicero Ave, Oak Forest, IL 60452 (708) 687-6200

· State Farm - Brian Robinson 14701 S Kolmar Ave, Midlothian, IL 60445 (708) 687-8585

· Zeiler Insurance Services 12159 S Pulaski Rd, Alsip, IL 60803 (708) 597- 5900

· State Farm – Den Georgopulous 12710 Harlem Ave, Palos Heights, IL 60463 (708) 448-0552

· State Farm – Kathy Miller 201 W Maple St, New Lenox, IL 60451 (815) 485-4414

· State Farm – Nicolette Jelen 10710 31st St, Westchester, IL 60154 (708) 531-9200

· State Farm – Laura Deppert 6655 Main St #202, Downers Grove, IL 60516 (630) 969-7989

· Farmers – Warner Brown 8055 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60617 (773) 933-7333

· Country Financial – Gwen Shaw 738 E 87th St, Chicago, IL 60619 (773) 487-0918

· American Family – Debera Pernell 9206 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60619

(773) 994-3622

· Allstate – Marilyn Posely 10337 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60628 (773) 779-2500

· Zeiler Insurance Services 3660 E. 106th Street Chicago, IL 60617 (708) 597- 5900

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Food items that pantries are desperately in need of are peanut butter, jelly, cereal, oatmeal, instant potatoes, pancake mix, macaroni and cheese, Hamburger Helper, tuna, pasta, spaghetti sauce, rice, soup, canned vegetables, fruit, canned tomatoes and tomato sauce. Holiday items might include stuffing mix, cake mix, frosting, gravy, cranberries, cornbread and salad dressing. Others items that are accepted are toilet paper and paper towels. Please note expiration dates when making donations.

Donations will help support Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Food Pantry of Oak Lawn, Pilgrim Faith United Food Pantry of Oak Lawn, Together We Cope of Tinley Park and W.I.N.G.S Ministry Food Pantry & associates located throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. These food pantries consist of volunteer efforts supported totally by donations from individuals, churches and community groups. The following pantries began as a small group of compassionate people looking to make a difference. Today they have become a huge helping hand to their communities and neighboring communities.

Hunger in America 2014 reports:

· 68 % of programs reported an increase in volume of clients over the last 12 months.

· 69 % of client households have incomes that fall at or below the federal poverty level.

· 54 percent of client households have annual incomes of $10,000 or less.

Chicagosfoodbank.org reports:

· 62 % of clients chose between paying for food and paying medical bills.

· 73 % of clients chose between paying for food and paying their utility bills.

· 59 % of clients chose between paying for food and paying their rent or mortgage.

· 67 % of clients chose between paying for food and paying for transportation.

· 38 % of clients chose between paying for food and paying for education.

For information on how you can take part in this Thanksgiving Food Drive, contact Niki Ramirez with Rainbow International of South & West Suburbs at (708) 460-0911.

About Rainbow International®:

Established in 1981, Rainbow International is a global franchise organization providing residential and commercial restoration and cleaning services. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500,” Rainbow International franchisees offer a broad range of damage restoration services such as water, smoke, mold and fire damage clean up. Rainbow International of South & West Suburbs was awarded the 2016 Torch Award for Ethics by the Better Business Bureau. For more information on Rainbow International visit www.rainbowrestore.net.