(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – People facing food insecurity in northern Illinois have a new digital tool at their disposal.
Northern Illinois Food Bank recently partnered with the Thierer Family Foundation to roll out an online food finder map.
“Our neighbors can now look at one map and put in their zip code to find a location close to them [including] hours and also other programs that the food pantries might offer,” said Jacqui Hebein, director of agency relations at the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Previously, people had to go to individual food banks or agency websites to find locations, services and hours.
Thanks to an agreement between Vivery and eight food banks across the state, the mobile-friendly map serves as a one-stop-shop for all Illinois residents.
“If an agency, food pantry or soup kitchen changes or adds programs, they're able to update that information and then the food bank gets a notification, and we can push that right through onto the map,” added Hebein.
The food finder map is particularly beneficial to those living along county borders within a food bank’s service area.
“Neighbors don't understand that Greater Chicago Food Depository covers Cook County, while Northern Illinois Food Bank covers these 13 counties,” said Hebein. “They just want to know where they can find food close to them.”
You can view the food finder map online at SolveHungerToday.org.
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