Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com
There are approximately 795 million people in the world that do not have enough food to lead a healthy and active life.
That number comes out to around one in nine people not getting the proper care that they need.
The Northern Illinois-area Allstate agency owners recently joined Allstate volunteers across seven states to secure a $24,000 Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grant to benefit 10 Feeding America member food banks, including the Northern Illinois Food Bank which serves the 13 counties in Northern Illinois.
Bolingbrook agency owner representative Kristi Bloedorn said that this opportunity was something that she will never forget, because of the many people that were helped.
“Allstate really pays it forward from a personal level,” Bloedorn said. “If every one took some of their time to volunteer to a place like this that would make such a different because the donating money and time in order to help others is what it’s all about.”
Allstate volunteers collected monetary donations during an online virtual food drive in April to enable Feeding America food bank members to support local families in need.
Every $1 donated during the online virtual food drive helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks.
Replenishing local food banks also allows rapid response during a natural disaster, which can leave community members without shelter, power and access to safe food and water.
Bloedorn said that sometimes people take things for granite with what they have, but helping people in need is something that really puts things into perspective.
“My excitement level doing this is a 10/10,” Bloedown said. “We go home to our house where our needs are met and we don’t realize what we truly have.”
With all of the donations Allstate approximately feeds 71,000 people per week.
The online virtual food drive and hands-on volunteer activity were part of a multi-state Allstate Foundation volunteer effort benefitting Feeding America member food banks in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, South Carolina and Texas.
In all, $136,000 was donated through Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants.
“We apply for a grant, do four hours of personal time with the origination were trying to get the grant with and once we do that, Allstate allows us $1000,” Bloedorn said. “So, every year we all get together and donate our time and resources for this great opportunity.”
Bloedorn said this started just a few years back after the idea arising from Chuck Suta to help out the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
“Four years ago [Suda], out of Shaumburg, decided he wanted to get as many agents as possible to all get together to give one big check to the Illinois food bank,” Bloedorn said.
Since 2011, Allstate and The Allstate Foundation have contributed more than $2.5 million to Feeding America to support its disaster preparedness and relief programs.
Northern Illinois Food Bank is one of thousands of organizations this year to receive Allstate Foundation Helping Hands grants secured by Allstate agency owners and financial specialists for their volunteer efforts.
The grants support organizations addressing domestic violence, youth empowerment, disaster preparedness, hunger and other causes.