According to Feeding America, currently, 1 in 9 Americans struggle with food insecurity, with Chicago and Cook County ranked as fourth highest in the nation. In 2019, Megan, a dedicated food service director for a FLIK Hospitality Group account in Chicago, wanted to give back to their local community by starting a food recovery program. Megan and her team found The Chicago Bridge Project, a food and clothing rescue organization, and the rest was history!
Over the past year, Megan and her team have worked with The Chicago Bridge Project to distribute any surplus food to agencies around Chicago, providing nutritious meals to those in need. Since March, they have consistently and safely donated food twice a week, and even amidst the constant changes this year. Lola, the Executive Director at The Chicago Bridge Project, expressed gratitude for their partnership with FLIK, “Through our work redistributing resources we reduce food waste, divert waste from landfills and provide wonderful nutritious food resources to people in need. The donations we receive from FLIK directly benefit food pantries, service orgs, tent encampments, and community members experiencing scarcity – many of whom count on this as part of their regular food supply.”
Most recently, a change in plans for Thanksgiving left the FLIK team with an unexpected surplus of food. Megan and her team worked with The Chicago Bridge Project to donate 6,000 pounds of food to the nonprofit A Safe Haven, an organization that serves 1200 people every day. The team didn’t stop there; the Chef created 30 individual Thanksgiving dinners and delivered them to a nearby fire station. “We’re so grateful to still be here, and have this opportunity, and want to give back to the rest of the community, to people who are less fortunate and first responders” shared Megan.
Related:
Feeding America’s Response to the Pandemic and How You Can Help // Chefs Creating Change // Food Recovery
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