Meet a few of the people you have helped by joining the fight to end hunger with Catholic Charities.

Creacy Cotton and Jeanette Lamar grew up in very different places and lived very different lives after both arrived in Chicago shortly after WWII. But the two women have some things in common. They are among the oldest of seniors who receive supplemental food through Catholic Charities' Seniors, Mothers and Child Nutrition Program. They both live on Chicago's West Side, and pick up their food from Catholic Charities' office at 4950 W. Flournoy. And they both use the food they receive to make favorite dishes."I'll get that food, which I enjoy…and figure out what to do with it," says Creacy Cotton, 91. Creacy has received the supplemental food for about ten years. One of her standard recipes is Beans with Okra. She uses the dry pinto beans she receives in her Catholic Charities monthly food box. The box typically contains canned fruit and vegetables, canned milk, dry beans, pasta, juice and shelf-stable pasteurized cheese.. The food helps her stretch her limited resources. Her income is her deceased husband's monthly Social Security check.

Jeanette Lamar, 97, uses macaroni and cheese from her food package to make a Mac and Cheese casserole that her grandchildren ask for. "When food is short, it helps a whole lot," she says. "Especially the juices and canned vegetables."

160,929 seniors received supplemental food packages from Catholic Charities last year. The food is distributed at 13 convenient local offices, like the one on Flournoy, which formerly housed a business.

Along with nonperishable food, seniors can receive Farmer's Market coupons every summer that can be redeemed at local markets around the city.