“We are thrilled we were able to reach our 2017 goal of providing 400,000 meals to those in need in Cook County and the great city of Chicago,” Dahl said. “One in six people in the US – one in five children – are unsure where their next meal will come from.”
FPSA launched its Giving Back initiative in 2012. The Defeat Hunger campaign grew out of the initiative and during Process Expo show in 2013 and 2015 the campaign donated more than 500,000 meals to the GCFD. “I am delighted to announce that our combined efforts since the inception of the Defeat Hunger program in 2013 have now resulted in contributions totaling nearly 1 million meals,” Dahl said.
Throughout the 4-day Process Expo show, a canned food structure has been on display to remind attendees of the campaign and the combined efforts of all the participating and donating companies.
Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, accepted the donations on behalf of the organization. “I’m so overwhelmed … your generosity is extraordinary,” she said. “You chose not only to come here to do business but also to give back. This is an industry that is made up of leaders – you’re not only interested in doing well for your companies and yourselves, you’re interested in being good neighbors to the people in Chicago and the people of this country.
“I am so grateful for the impact that this gift will have on the men, women and children we serve,” Maehr said. “I’m also grateful that this sends to all the other leaders out there about the impact we can have when we collectively choose to come together to be a part of a response.”
