Mariano’s, Roundy’s Donate $13,000 Locally to Fight Hunger

Mariano’s and Roundy’s donated $25,000 in food and money to six food pantries in the northwest suburbs and in Chicago on Monday.

Among the local recipients were the Palatine Township Food Pantry, Journeys The Road Home and Bread of Life Food Pantry in Deer Park, who received funds and food valued at $13,000.

A semi-truck filled with more than 15,000 pounds of food was stationed in the Mariano’s parking lot, 545 N. Hicks Road on Monday afternoon.

Mariano’s employees unloaded the truck, and representatives of local food pantries, including Linda Fleming, Palatine Township supervisor were present to accept the donations.

Both Mariano’s and Roundy’s donated more than $3,800 in non-perishable food weighing 2,595 pounds, in addition to a $500 check to purchase perishables for each organization.

Recent hunger statistics include:

• One in nine Illinois households have a hard time putting food on the table
• Over 1,991,026 Illinois children are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program
• More than 28 percent of people using food pantries in Illinois are currently employed
• There has been a 35 percent increase since 2009 in the number of Illinois individuals seeking food assistance

The presentation in Palatine was part of a five day, 14 city Roundy’s Foundation Focused on Feeding Families Tour.  In all, more than $258,000 in food and money were given to 60 food pantries in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Roundy’s Foundation is hosting the Recipe Face-Off Facebook Competition, in which fans of the Roundy’s Foundation Facebook page (facebook.com/RoundysFoundation) have until April 15 to submit a recipe in hopes of winning a food donation for their favorite food pantry.

Submissions must select from five pre-selected ingredients that are commonly found at a food pantry and a dish that is kid-friendly. A panel of judges will then determine the top recipe submissions to move on to the final voting round. Facebook fans will make the final decision by going to the Roundy’s Foundation Facebook page and “Liking” their favorite recipe. The Roundy’s Foundation will make a food donation to the food pantry chosen by the winner. See the Roundy’s Foundation Facebook page for complete rules and details. 

Information provided by Roundy's.