2015 April Food Day Kicks Off in the Chicago Southland!

The Chicago Southland hospitality industry is leading the way this year in the South-Southwest Suburban United Way’s annual April Food Day. Nineteen drop-off points have been established throughout 12 communities in the Chicago Southland region and are now collecting food through Wednesday, April 1st, 2015. They include hotels and park districts. For a list of locations and more information about April Food Day, visit www.Facebook.com/AprilFoodDay.

On April 1st, all the collected food will be taken to the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18501 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, Ill., from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The food will then be packed up and taken to six local food pantries and shelters throughout the Chicago Southland. They include: Respond Now - Chicago Heights, Ford Heights Community Service Organization, Richton Park Food Pantry, Catholic Charities (South Holland), Restoration Ministries – South Holland and Together We Cope – Tinley Park.

Local food pantries estimate that the need for food and toiletries has more than doubled in the past five years. While many individuals think of food pantries during the winter months, need is typically higher in spring and summer as donations decrease and supplies diminish. Last year, we as a community raised over 7,000 pounds of food locally and are wanting to bring in more than 10,000 pounds this year. This is a great event for us to come together, help those who are in need and make a positive impact in our community.

Achieving a positive change in supporting those in the greatest of need takes a broad movement of people, leveraging our time, our collective voice and our resources. Together, we can change the story for more than one million people across our region.

Participating Locations

ALSIP

Baymont Inn & Suites

12801 S. Cicero Avenue

DoubleTree by Hilton

5000 W. 127th Street

CALUMET CITY

Baymont Inn & Suites

510 East End Avenue

Sandridge Community Center

600 Oglesby

CRETE

Crete Park District

515 First Street

CRESTWOOD

Holiday Inn Express

13330 S. Cicero Avenue

FLOSSMOOR

Coyote Run Golf Course

800 Kedzie Avenue

Goldberg

3301 Flossmoor Road

HOMEWOOD

HF Racquet & Fitness Club

2920 W. 183rd Street

Irwin Community Center

18120 Highland Avenue

LANSING

Comfort Suites

2235 W. 173rd Street

MONEE

Americas Best Value Inn

5815 W. Monee - Manhattan Road

OAK FOREST

BEST WESTERN PLUS Chicago Southland

4375 Frontage Road

Terrace Motel

15353 S. Cicero Avenue

ORLAND PARK

Comfort Inn & Conference Centre

8800 W. 159th Street

SOUTH HOLLAND

Clarion Inn

610 Tollview Drive

TINLEY PARK

Hilton Garden Inn

18335 LaGrange Road

Holiday Inn Hotel &

Tinley Park Convention Center

18501 Convention Center Drive

LaQuinta Inn & Suites

7255 W. 183rd Street

United Way Contacts

Yvonne Orr – Chief Professional Officer

South-Southwest Suburban United Way

Phone: 708-248-7910

Yvonne.Orr@uw-mc.org

Bianca Spratt – Relationship Manager

South-Southwest Suburban United Way

Phone: 708-248-7910

Bianca.Spratt@uw-mc.org

Chicago Southland CVB Contact

Juston Teach – Communications Manager

Chicago Southland Convention &

Visitors Bureau

Phone: 708-895-8200

Juston@VisitChicagoSouthland.com

.js”,R2]

BB*E