Food Depository's 22nd Annual Hunger Walk Asks Chicagoans to Join the March Against Hunger June 16

Food Depository's 22nd Annual Hunger Walk Asks Chicagoans to Join the March Against Hunger June 16

June 16 event will benefit Chicago area food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters

CHICAGO, June 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by The Greater Chicago Food Depository:

(Logo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040512/CGW059LOGO )

WHO: Approximately 4,000 people will gather to raise money that will
directly benefit the member food pantries, soup kitchens and
shelters of the Greater Chicago Food Depository in Cook County.
Participants will include staff, volunteers, clients and
supporters from food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.

WHAT: The 22nd Annual Hunger Walk is a 2 1/2-mile, non-competitive
family event. Morning excitement will include family-friendly
activities, live musical entertainment, local celebrities, and a
performance by the Jesse White Tumbling Team.

WHEN: Saturday, June 16, 2007
Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.
Step-off is at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: Montrose Harbor,
4400 North at the Lakefront, Chicago

WHY: The Greater Chicago Food Depository, which serves nearly a half-
million people annually, is hosting the annual Hunger Walk: a
2 1/2-mile walk benefiting its member agencies -- 600 food
pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in Cook County -- many of
which have seen increases in visits to their sites in recent
years.

Normally each member agency, comprised mostly of volunteers,
receives support from the Food Depository in the form of training,
equipment, and grants, but must raise its own funds. The Hunger
Walk is organized by the Food Depository but proceeds go directly
to its member agencies. Many agencies raise funds for their entire
annual operating budget at the Hunger Walk.

VISUALS:

-- Agency groups and individuals walking along the lakefront.
-- Performances by the Jesse White Tumbling Team, the Proviso East
Drumline and more.
-- Children and families participating in family fun entertainment,
including caricature artists, face painting and visiting with wandering
mascots, such as Star Wars characters.
-- Numerous musical groups performing on stage throughout the morning.

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

-- Kate Maehr, executive director, Greater Chicago Food Depository.
-- Angel La Luz, director of agency programs and services, Greater Chicago
Food Depository.
-- Agency directors, who run the neighborhood pantries, soup kitchens and
shelters.
-- Participants -- including clients of pantries and soup kitchens as well
as adults and families who support the fight against hunger in Cook
County.

SPONSORS: ABC 7, Clare Foundation, Complete Cleaning Company, ConAgra Foods, Dunkin Donuts, Home Run Inn, Jewel-Osco, Lifeway, Pepsi, Quaker and Radio Disney.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago's food bank, is a not-for- profit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 600 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to almost a half-million adults and children every year. Last year, the Food Depository distributed more than 40 million pounds of nonperishable food and fresh produce, dairy products and meat, the equivalent of more than 84,000 meals every day. Innovative training programs and initiatives developed by the Food Depository also work to provide men, women and children with the tools necessary to break their individual cycles of poverty. For more information, log onto http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/ or call 773-247-FOOD.

Photo: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040512/CGW059LOGO
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Greater Chicago Food Depository

CONTACT: Bob Dolgan, +1-773-843-7293, +1-773-447-1980 (c),
rmdolgan@gcfd.org, or Ruth Igoe, +1-773-843-2843, +1-773-447-0697 (c),
reigoe@gcfd.org, both of Greater Chicago Food Depository

Web site: http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/

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