According to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, one in eight Chicagoans depends on their services. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey released recently revealed that of Cook County residents 825,870 individuals (15.9 percent) lived in poverty in 2009. Children were particularly hard hit as 286,310 children (26.2 percent) lived in poverty last year.

With the help of a state grant, The Greater Chicago Food Depository opened in 1978 and has since helped millions of residents across the city. Today, the Food Depository distributes 66 million pounds of food, including more than 12.8 million pounds of produce, to 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Cook County. Nearly 142,000 men, women and children turn to the Food Depository’s network each week, and nearly 678,000 people turn to the network annually.

If you or someone you know is in need of services from The Greater Chicago Food Depository or if you would like to donate, please visit www.chicagosfoodbank.org or call 773.247.3663 to find a food bank location near you.