Programs & Events

Cook County Farm Bureau® and Partners Raise Cash, Food, and Hygiene Product Donations for Local Food Pantries

Cook County Farm Bureau® Celebrates its 24th Annual Food Checkout Day

 

Together with various partners, Cook County Farm Bureau® donated much needed food staples to four Cook County food pantries. Donations were raised in celebration of Food Checkout Day. Food Checkout Day celebrates the healthy and nutritious food local farmers grow and raise by providing food or cash donations to people in need.

 

Over $8,000 was donated to local Cook County pantries in celebration of Food Checkout Day this year and the healthy and nutritious food grown and raised by local farmers. The donations directly benefited the one in seven individuals in Cook County who are hungry.

 

In addition to traditional food donations, Cook County Farm Bureau’s Young Leader Committee hosted their first hygiene product drive. Members and leaders donated personal care items including toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, and lotion.

 

Partner food pantries, Common Pantry, Chicago; Schaumburg Barn, Schaumburg; Share Food Share Love, Brookfield; and Tinley Park Food Pantry, Tinley Park were selected by local representatives from COUNTRY Financial®. Representatives were from the following COUNTRY Financial agencies: Chicago North, Chicago South, Chicago Northwest, and Orland Park respectively.

 

“Cook County and Illinois farmers are committed to growing safe and nutritious food for our families and for others,” said Janet McCabe, President of Cook County Farm Bureau. “Food Checkout Day allows us to recognize the importance of healthy, nutritious food while supporting local families in need, especially during this time of elevated food prices.”

 

For 20 years, Cook County Farm Bureau partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Through the generosity of partners for nearly two decades, Farm Bureau donated over $145,000 and nearly 100,000 pounds of food.

 

In 2012, and again in 2021, Farm Bureau’s food pantry efforts were named a Summit Award winner by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The Summit Award recognizes the positive impact that non-profit associations have on their community.

Thank you to the following individuals who donated cash:

 

Common Pantry

Emily Abarquez

Kathy Engert

Schaumburg Barn

Larry and Sharon Barr

Mary Ann Belmonte

Ray Massie

 

Share Food Share Love

Bob Rohrer

Joseph Sasso

 

Tinley Park Food Pantry

Jim Andresen

Linda Bosy

Laura Elkins 

Dave Forrester

Tom Geraghty

Tim Hartnell

Kyle Hastings

Candance Jablonski

Karen Kavalas

Michael Kelty

Terry LaMastus

Donna Nykaza-Jones

Marion Palumbo

Jim Parthemore

Eileen Rodger

Cary Tate

Mike Thauer

Susan Schumer

Piero Setta

Mike Spadoni

Erica Storrs Gray

Samantha Zengri

Hygiene Products Drive

Biernacki Family

Jennifer Miller

Katrina Milton

Bob Rohrer

Susan Schumer

 

Thank you to all the members, supporters, and COUNTRY Financial representatives who donated non-perishable food items.

Food Checkout Day is possible only through the efforts of volunteers, including Farm Bureau leadership and committee members and Chicago North, Chicago South, Northwest, and Orland Park COUNTRY Financial representatives and staff members. Volunteers were integral to the success of the shopping spree portion of Food Checkout Day.

 

Volunteers 

Karina Alcala, COUNTRY Financial Chicago North Agency

Yubana Alvarez, COUNTRY Financial Chicago South Agency

Jim Andresen, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Dan Biernacki

Karen Biernacki

Rebecca Biernacki

Bryan Blau

Linda Bosy

Laura Elkins, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Jamie Granholm, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Bona Heinsohn

Matt Huonder, COUNTRY Financial Chicago Northwest Agency

Joanna Kapica, COUNTRY Financial Chicago South Agency

Gerry Kopping

Linda Kopping

Roberto Martinez, COUNTRY Financial Chicago North Agency

Janet McCabe

Liana Mierendorf, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

Alonzo Nevarez Jr., COUNTRY Financial Chicago South Agency

Tino Ramirez, COUNTRY Financial Chicago Northwest Agency

Bob Rohrer

Mike Rauch

Ciria Serrano, COUNTRY Financial Chicago North Agency

Sharon Stemke, COUNTRY Financial Northeast Agency

Linda Tobias

Diane Tom, COUNTRY Financial Chicago Northwest Agency

Lisa Zielinski, COUNTRY Financial Orland Park Agency

 

As the county’s largest general farm organization, Cook County Farm Bureau® is dedicated to bridging the gap between farmers and urban consumers. Through education programs targeting youth and their parents and programs designed to connect farmers with potential consumers, Farm Bureau members are actively engaging in conversations about food and the shared values between farmers and consumers.