IFT has for many years donated surplus food from its annual trade show to local food banks in the host city. This year the event was held in the Institute’s home city of Chicago, and a total of 63 attendees and members donated their time, energy and money to helping out at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, part of the Feeding America network.
Between them the volunteers packed 720 cases of emergency food, 4,000 pounds of bread and bagels and 1,640 bags of weekend snack bags for individuals and families during the Annual Meeting. This is the third year that IFT and Feeding America have joined forces to help combat hunger.
Almost 500,000 people each year rely on emergency and supplemental food provided by the Food Depository and its member network of 650 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.