Tony and Dolly Ellis

As food and fuel prices continue to rise, more people are turning to local food banks and pantries to help feed their families. To help meet the increasing demand for nutritious food, Tyson Foods today delivered more than 15 tons of protein -- including chicken, beef and pork -- to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.. Six thousand pounds of the protein will go to support the Lakeview Pantry, Willing Rainbow Kitchen, Heaven’s Harvest Pantry, St. Francis DeSales Church, St. Pius Catholic Church and St. Sabrina Social Services.  The remaining 24,000 pounds will be distributed through the Food Depository.

Given the economic climate and the push to develop alternative fuels, the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects food prices to rise around four percent this year, the same increase as last year, making the ability to put a nutritious well balanced meal on the table even more difficult for those who are already struggling.

“In Chicago, we are on pace to distribute 44 million pounds of food this year, and the demand at our pantries and soup kitchens is increasing,” said Kate Maehr, executive director of the Food Depository. “There is a tremendous need in our community, but we are also seeing a tremendous response from our supporters. We are grateful Tyson has once again generously donated much needed protein so we can help many individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet.”

l to r: Justin Clark, representing Tyson Foods/Acosta; Dan McClosky; Suzan Bateson, Executive Director of the Alameda County Community Food Bank.

For more than nine years, Oakland resident Dan McClosky has worked tirelessly to help feed the hungry in the Bay area, raising money and collecting food through local synagogues for the annual Holiday Dinner Drive. To date, he has raised more than $293,000 for the Alameda County Community Food Bank. For his efforts, Tyson Foods, Inc.  has named McClosky a “Hunger All-Star of the Month,” an honor that comes with a 1,000-pound donation of protein to his favorite charity and more than 15 tons of protein to the Food Bank, the organization that nominated him.