On World Kindness Day, Close The Meal Gap In Montgomery

MONTGOMERY, IL — We’ve probably never needed World Kindness Day — observed Friday — more than we do in 2020.

This year's been tough on multiple levels, from the inconvenience caused by coronavirus social distancing to real economic hurt among some of our neighbors who lie awake at night worrying about how they’re going to feed themselves and their families.

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They could use our help on World Kindness Day and in the months to come. It’s as simple as supporting Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the country, which estimates food insecurity could swell to 50 million Americans before 2020 is over.

Feeding America serves 200 member food banks that serve and supply 60,000 food pantries, kitchens and meal programs in Montgomery and elsewhere around the country.

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The Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva is the Feeding America-affiliated food bank serving Kane County. It provides food to a network of 800 pantries, soup kitchens and other organizations throughout 13 counties in the region. The food bank distributed almost 7.3 million meals and more than 60,000 emergency food boxes in May.

Food insecurity isn’t a new problem in Kane County. Before the pandemic threw millions of Americans into unemployment, about 7 percent of all Kane County residents were considered food insecure. The continuing economic fallout from the health pandemic has driven that figure to 11.6 percent.

You can help through food drives or by adopting a local family. But to spread your donation further, consider making a tax-deductible donation to Feeding America. With its power to buy groceries in bulk, Feeding America can provide 10 meals for every $1 donated.

How To Help

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.