Food Deserts in Chicago: How You Can Fight Hunger

Hunger is an issue that plagues many low-income people throughout Chicago.  Without an appropriate amount and variety of food, we lack the essential nutrients needed to stay healthy.  But what if you were unable to buy fresh fruits and vegetables?  What happens when it is just too hard to get these fresh, nutritious foods?

A food desert is an area with little or no access to full-service grocery stores that sell the food needed to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.  In these food deserts, most people have to travel twice as far to get to a full-service grocery store as they have to travel to get to a fast food restaurant or convenience store.  Without their own method of transportation, most people will shop at the food source closest to their home, despite their preferences or dietary restrictions.  It is estimated that over 600,000 Chicagoans live in areas with an imbalance of food choices.^[1]

In 2006, the Mari Gallagher Research & Consulting Group submitted a report on the impact of Food Deserts on Chicago neighborhoods and found that in the western area of Chicago alone, seven neighborhoods were food deserts.  Fast food restaurants and convenience stores are often a much closer alternative in these areas, and this can affect the overall health and wellness of a community.   Their research has shown that the imbalance of access to healthy foods can also lead to higher rates of obesity and hypertension and also increases the likelihood of premature death from diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular complications.  The prevalence of these chronic disorders can have a huge impact on a community – it directly affects the quality, productivity, and length of life and can also indirectly affect health care costs, school test scores, and the area’s economic strength. ^[2]

To address this, Chicago Cares currently runs hunger programming with three different organizations in West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park, and West Town – all of which are neighborhoods identified as food deserts.  One of these programs is a healthy cooking class with residents at Open Door Shelter, a temporary shelter for young adults who may have been exposed to difficult life circumstances.  Chicago Cares volunteers focus on teaching these young adults to use healthy alternatives while cooking meals they would want to eat.

In the future, Chicago Cares hopes to further tackle hunger by expanding programs in the critical neighborhoods highlighted in the western and southern areas of Chicago.  For more information about volunteering at hunger programs on the west side of Chicago, please contact Joyce Cruz at jcruz@chicagocares.org or 312-780-0800 ext. 141.  

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^[1] http://marigallagher.com/site_media/dynamic/project_files/ChicagoFoodDesProg2009a.pdf

^[2] http://marigallagher.com/site_media/dynamic/project_files/2_Chi-ForwExecSumOnly.pdf

RSVP for the Star Awards

Our Star Awards Event is fast approaching! Chicago Cares will spend an evening at the elegant Four Seasons Hotel on Monday, October 25^th from 6:00-9:00pm honoring outstanding members of our volunteer community.  T hanks to your time and effort nominating your fellow volunteers, this year’s selection process has been especially competitive. 

Star Awards is the perfect time to come together and celebrate all the great achievements from our dedicated volunteers in the community. It’s more than simply a night to honor a few individuals; Star Awards is an opportunity for our corporate partners, weekly volunteers, youth groups and community partners to meet. We have transformed our awards to focus on and celebrate the volunteer community that Chicago Cares considers its greatest asset. Please join us for what will surely be a night to remember.

RSVP now at http://chicagocares.kintera.org/starrsvp or visiting our website: www.chicagocares.org. We hope to see you and your Chicago Cares’ family there!

New Programs in Senior Services, Adult Education, & much, much more!

Be on the lookout for new programs in the calendar throughout the fall and winter that address needs in adult education, senior services, hunger, the environment and more.  Generous funding has enabled us to add staff members to our Human Service ongoing programs team. Team members are spending time researching a variety of needs across the city and reaching out new community partners.

The Human Service team spends time learning about communities and their needs , building tailored programs where volunteers can participate in a variety of activities. Each of these new programs needs a leader. Help spread the word to your volunteers and encourage them to consider leading a program. Here are a few examples of exciting new program models:

GED Coaching in Logan Square

Volunteers who are fluent in Spanish will assist adult students with math and English homework for their GED classes. These classes will provide students with the assistance needed to master their  knowledge of the subjects they cover and help to build the confidence needed to pursue further education or apply for higher-paying jobs. This program will occur twice a month on Wednesday evenings at McAuliffe Elementary School located in Logan Square. Contact Program Coordinator Kyle Mahoney at kmahoney@chicagocares.org or 312-780-0800 ext. 182 to learn about leading or volunteering at this program. Leaders should be available for at least one project per month and be fluent in Spanish.

Women’s Discussion and Bingo Group

Female residents at Franklin and Drake Senior Apartments (located in Austin) are in need of women’s health programming and general health education. Chicago Cares has developed a health discussion program where volunteers will use questions and resources to cover topics ranging from heart disease and diabetes to skin care and healthy eating with older female adults. Each project concludes with an ever-popular game of Bingo. Contact Program Coordinator Rosie Drumgoole at rdrumgoole@chicagocares.org or 312-780-0800 ext. 146 to learn about leading or volunteering at this program. Leaders should be available for one project per month and should be knowledgeable about basic health issues.

More ongoing Human Service leadership needs can be found here by choosing an issue area under “Current Team Coordinator Openings”. Check back frequently as new programs are added each week. Support Chicago Cares expansion by spreading the word about these new programs and leadership opportunities!

Leader Spotlight – Dena Hicks

Dena Hicks may have had her first volunteer experience with Chicago Cares in 2001, but it was hardly her first brush with service. Dena’s family instilled the importance of volunteerism and the act of giving back at a very young age. Those lessons have inspired Dena to work with the community.

“I believe it is important to take an active role in our community to keep our neighborhoods strong, enjoyable places to live.” ~Dena Hick

Dena took her volunteering experience to the next level in 2006 when she agreed to be a team coordinator for a children’s education program with Chicago Cares. Although Dena has volunteered with many different issue areas, she feels a special calling to children’s programs. “I really enjoy watching the kids get excited about the new things they are learning. It’s rewarding to see their imaginations process these new tools and get excited about what they can do with all that new knowledge,” says Dena. 

In the past few years Dena has taken her volunteering another step further, assisting with refining curriculum for the Children’s Education and Development department’s programs. Her expertise has been a huge help, especially with programs like Just Click Here. In addition to her work with children’s programs, Dena is also a member of the Chicago Cares leadership council. Her dedication to Chicago Cares and service is a true inspiration.

On behalf of the Chicago Cares staff, we would like to say “THANK YOU Dena!” for all your hard work, dedication and inspiration. Your leadership and awareness for service are an inspiration for so many others to get out into the community and give back.

Celebration of Service - How Will You Keep His Memory Alive?

Our Business Shares is in full force this season, providing excellent opportunities for our seasoned PSMs to practice their leadership skills, but we’re still gearing up for the Celebration of Service in January 2011. Our Celebration of Service (in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) is the perfect opportunity for leaders from all walks of the Chicago Cares community to get involved and make a difference in one service day across our city. Projects will include opportunities to serve with seniors, children’s education programs, adults with disabilities and facilities rehabilitation.

How can you prepare as a leader for this event? It is never too soon to start spreading the word to your volunteers about the many ways in which they can become involved. Leaders can also recruit friends, family or fellow leaders to start a Project Site Manager team and serve together for this event. Our greatest resource for recruitment is through our leaders and their close relationships with volunteers. We appreciate your efforts in spreading the word and excitement about this excellent event.

Taking Action Against Hunger: Seniors' Needs

Each year, America’s senior population grows, and with baby boomers hitting their “golden years” there’s little need to explain why this phenomenon is happening.  The older American population is expected to grow 147% between 2000 and 2050.  In Illinois we are estimated to have 12,901,563 seniors according to 2008 administration on aging data[1].  However, with this jump in population there is also a risk that the level of poverty among seniors will grow as well.

A study by Feeding America done in February 2010 took a look at food insecurity in America.  They found that “30 percent of client households with seniors indicated that they have had to choose between food and medical care and 35 percent had to choose between food and paying for heat/utilities.”  They also found that 3.6 million older Americans live below the poverty level and 1.3 million were deemed food insecure[2]. 

 

These stats really hit home when you think about the low income seniors living right here in Chicago.  In the Oakland community the average income is $13,243 per year[3].  There is a significant amount of seniors who live in this community which means the need here is a lot greater than in some other areas of the city.  This level of poverty means the seniors in this community may not be receiving the nutrition they need.  A 2002 study of elderly women who lived below the poverty line showed that rising food costs, transportation, and shopping difficulties all inhibited them from getting the proper nutrition that they needed.[4]
 

With that in mind, Chicago Cares has created a Senior Diner’s Club at the Lake Parc Place Apts building in the Oakland community.  Lake Parc Place Apts is a family Chicago Housing Authority building.  This mixed income building houses low income seniors who are primarily living off their modest social security and pension checks for income.  Senior Diner’s Club was created in conjunction with the building to ensure that these seniors receive a healthy and hearty dinner once a month.  This program encourages socialization among the senior residents and provides them with the proper nutrition.

The Senior Diner’s Club at Lake Parc Place Apts takes place on the second Thursday of every month from 6:15 to 8pm.  If you’re interested in volunteering or leading this project and making an impact within the senior community please contact Rosie Drumgoole at rdrumgoole@chicagocares.org.

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[1] http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Aging_Statistics/Census_Population/Population/2008/index.aspx

[2] http://feedingamerica.org/faces-of-hunger/hunger-101/senior-hunger.aspx

[3] http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Oakland-Chicago-IL.html

[4] http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0887/is_9_21/ai_92519604/?tag=content;col1

Fighting Hunger from the Ground up: Ginkgo Organic Gardens and Vital Bridges

"It was 17 years ago this summer a group of volunteer growers and environmentalists approached us with a bold and exciting opportunity – organic produce for people living with AIDS,” recounts Lori Cannon, Co-Founder of Vital Bridges, an organization with a mission to help people impacted by HIV and AIDS to improve their health. “Knowing full well the challenge of being immune compromised, these terrific volunteers devised a program to grow nutritious and healthy fruits and vegetables for distribution to our clients all summer long.”

These volunteers were the founding members of Uptown’s Ginkgo Organic Gardens, whose goal was to turn the surplus produce of urban gardens into donations for local non-profits that otherwise couldn’t afford organic foods. Twice per week during the spring and summer, volunteers come together to plant, maintain, and harvest the nearly 1,500 pounds of fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables that are donated annually to Vital Bridges – they even deliver the produce themselves using bicycle trailers.

When Lori calls being immune-compromised a “challenge,” she’s being modest: the dietary needs of a person living with HIV/AIDS are incredibly complex. The AIDS virus attacks T Helper cells, a type of white blood cell that provides direction to our B cells (those that actually produce antibodies and antigens). Numerous studies have shown a direct link between increased consumption of vitamins A, C, and E (“ACE”) and T Helper cell health and quantity; thus, harvesting ACE-packed produce for three hours at Ginkgo is like harvesting three more potential hours of good health for Vital Bridges’ clients.

Today, Vital Bridges is able to serve over 2,000 clients annually and the produce they receive from Ginkgo is a major factor in this outreach. “The families, clients, and care givers all delight in the magnificent selection and the gracious growers and volunteers: the passion and excitement grow with every harvest,” Cannon Says. “We consider ourselves so fortunate to be partners with this unique and important program –it’s proven to be one of the many life-lines needed to combat this dreaded disease.

Chicago Cares currently runs three programs with Vital Bridges year-round: Grocery Land South on the South side, Shopping on Lake on the West side, and Shopping on Broadway on the North side. Volunteers help in the pantry by “shopping” for and packaging the items clients select from the list of available goods. We bring volunteers to work in the gardens at Ginkgo on Saturday mornings April - October.

For more information about Vital Bridges visit www.vitalbridges.org. Information about Ginkgo Organic Gardens can be found at www.ginkgogardens.org or you can check out their blog at http://ginkgogardens.blogspot.com/. To volunteer with Chicago Cares at either location, please go to www.chicagocares.org/calendar and contact the Team Coordinator for your desired project date.