Hunger Resource Network (HRN) was founded in April of 2009 and became certified as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in July of that year.

HRN grew out of a food rescue project at St. Giles Episcopal Church in Northbrook, Illinois that rescued more than 20 tons of food a year from Sunset Foods. Hunger Resource Network co-founders, Dan and Linda Jariabka, realized the need was greater and started HRN with a group of volunteers who surveyed local food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens and discovered their greatest need was for protein.

HRN stands out because:

It does not serve individuals directly – instead, it works through recipient agencies, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters, helping them better meet community needs.
It is run by an all-volunteer Board and focuses on providing high-quality protein (like chicken) at no cost to those agencies.
It supports many smaller agencies that may not qualify for support from larger supply organizations

Who does Hunger Resource Network serve?

HRN serves a wide network of recipient agencies and locally focused programs like those supporting students and seniors. The recipient agencies – food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters - in turn distribute the food to the individuals and families facing food insecurity they serve. It operates across Chicagoland, helping organizations that serve people facing food insecurity throughout the region.

How can we get involved?

Donate: Contributions help purchase and distribute nutritious food to agencies serving people in need.

Volunteer: HRN offers volunteer opportunities for food distribution events and other outreach activities, such as the Annual Hunger Hero Luncheon in May.

Sponsor or Partner: Businesses and community groups can become sponsors or partner with HRN in other ways to support the efforts to alleviate hunger.

Join Outreach Days: Events such as Poultry to Pantries Days allow volunteers to help provide thousands of pounds of food to local agencies twice a year.

You can find opportunities and sign-up forms on HRN’s website under Volunteer or Donate.

Attend our Annual Hunger Resource Network Luncheon Wednesday, May 6th at Chevy Chase Country Club. Tickets $75. Please sign-up on website www.hungerresourcenetwork.org or email Kerry Smith @ kerryt@hungerresource.org

One thing everyone should know about Hunger Resource Network

HRN plays a critical bridging role in the hunger-relief ecosystem — connecting sources of food with community organizations that directly feed and support people experiencing food insecurity. By focusing on high-quality nutrition, serving smaller agencies often overlooked by larger distributors, and leveraging community partnerships, HRN uniquely expands the reach and impact of hunger relief across the Chicagoland area.