West Cook News

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) earlier this month sponsored and participated in a meal giveaway to area churches and service providers in his district.

“We worked together to deliver over 400 meals at 7 locations to first responders, nurses, health and childcare workers, as well as senior citizens and community members facing housing or food insecurity,” Harmon wrote on his Facebook on Dec. 8.

Hope Community Church, Housing Forward, West Suburban Medical Center, PCC Community Wellness Center, Beyond Hunger, Chicago Police 15th District, Greater St. John Bible Church, and Austin Childcare Providers Network assisted the lawmaker with the deliveries.

“Thanks to my community partners and all those who help struggling families and neighbors,” he continued on Facebook. “Thanks also to the amazing chef Robert Bailey and co-sponsor Meridian Health of Illinois.”

Housing Forward likewise expressed gratitude towards Harmon.

“Our sincere thanks for your generosity, Senator!” the Chicago non-profit organization wrote on its own Facebook.

While food insecurity has long been a problem in the country, it was magnified when the COVID-19 pandemic began last year.

The website Patch reported that a new study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service revealed no changes in the country’s overall food insecurity rate; however, the finding deduced that not all families fared as well as others.

Locally, more than 1.2 million Illinoisans experienced food insecurity, with Cook County accounting for 40% of the figure with 480,000, according to Patch.

The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness reported that an estimated 10,431 Illinoisans experienced on any given day, as reported by Continuums of Care to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.