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Northern Illinois Food Bank
Our vision at Northern Illinois Food Bank is for everyone in Northern Illinois to have the food they need to thrive. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and proud member of Feeding America, we serve our neighbors in 13 counties with dignity, equity and convenience, providing 250,000 meals a day. We bring together manufacturers, local and corporate grocers, area farmers, corporations, foundations, and individuals who donate food and funding, and each week nearly 1,000 volunteers help us evaluate, repack, and distribute food. We also proudly partner with more than 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and youth and senior feeding programs to provide nutritious food and resources. Our distribution centers are located in Geneva, Park City, Rockford and Joliet.
Purpose
Northern Illinois Food Bank has been creating access to free, nutritious groceries for those in need since 1983. Food insecurity impacts thousands of Illinois residents each year. When COVID-19 hit, difficult choices became all too common topics of conversation in Illinois households. Many of our neighbors faced tough decisions, such as choosing between putting food on the table or paying other bills and expenses. The groceries that neighbors receive through the Food Bank’s network can help alleviate those choices and lead to healthier communities in Northern Illinois. Last year, the Food Bank distributed more than 100 million meals—a 16 percent increase from the prior year, and the equivalent of nearly 225,000 meals daily across its service area. As the pandemic’s impact heightened, the Food Bank distributed an additional 30 million meals to meet the rising need through programs such as mobile pantries and pop-up markets held across the suburbs. Many of those visiting the Food Bank’s distributions were new to a food pantry or never received charitable food before. The Food Bank expects the increased need to continue into the coming years as more than 350,000 neighbors continue to face the challenge of having enough food, and that even more are making tough sacrifices so they and their families are able to eat or may be one paycheck or unexpected bill away from food insecurity.
Vision
Vision: "For everyone in Northern Illinois to have the food they need to thrive."
Mission
Mission: "To provide nutritious food and resources for our neighbors, with dignity, equity and convenience, through partnerships and innovation."
Additional Culture Details
Northern Illinois Food Bank has begun a five-year collaborative journey with the unveiling of its new Strategic Plan: UNITE, the culmination of more than a year of preliminary work and planning to identify key pathways and increase collaboration among its network of 900 agencies and feeding programs, neighbors and supporters to co-create programs and share knowledge so that everyone the Food Bank serves has equitable access to the quantity and quality of the food they need and want. In conjunction with the new strategic plan, Northern Illinois Food Bank has adopted new Mission and Vision statements, which will guide the continued development of organizational culture in the coming years. UNITE is centered around five interconnected strategic pathways: Embrace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI); Enhance Food Supply; Empower our Neighbors; Engage our Network; and Evolve the Food Bank to become more adaptable.
Values
- Our Values
- Community: We collaborate with our team and partners to exceptionally serve one another and our neighbors. We honor diversity and celebrate our unique gifts and perspectives.
Humility: We are humble and self-aware. We know when to ask for and accept help.
Impact: We create positive change by focusing on what’s most important to our mission.
Empowerment: We trust and support each other to get the job done and to do it well.
Accountability: We take ownership for our performance and honor our commitments.
Transparency: We share information, as appropriate, openly and honestly through candid conversation.
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