Mayor’s Hunger Luncheon fundraiser provides lifeline for Rockford food pantries

SNAP benefits are in jeopardy for nearly 70,000 Rockford area residents come November. With that in mind, the Mayor’s Hunger Luncheon held at Veteran’s Memorial Hall became even more relevant than before.

“Food insecurity is rising all across the country,” Northern Illinois Food Bank Senior Manager Robert Desio said. “Especially in these times where we have public benefits like SNAP benefits that are under threat, people are going to rely more and more on food pantries to get assistance.”

The hunger luncheon is an annual event aimed to raise money for food pantries and battle hunger in the Rockford area. The event was sold out, much to the delight of Rockford mayor Tom McNamara.

“We’re really excited. We have a full house and we’re raising money for the nine local pantries in our community. Every dollar raised today is going to those pantries,” McNamara says. “We’re obviously seeing a tremendous amount of need in Rockford area, and that needs only going to be exacerbated when, Snap benefits begin to expire on Saturday, November 1st.”

The goal was to raise around $60,000, a little over $6,500 for each pantry. Director of Social Services for the Salvation Shan Johnson says the funds raised through the luncheon go a long way.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize that we have no government funding,” she said. “Everything has been cut and so we are continually seeking to be able to pay for the food pantry and to be able to keep it stocked and to be able to keep things on the shelf. The Mayor’s Hunger Luncheon is a great help with all of that”

Those looking to donate to the Greater Rockford Food Pantry Coalition can click the link Mayor’s Hunger Luncheon for more information.