Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is sponsoring the first-ever Have a Heart and Help Your Neighbor drive for nonperishable food and financial donations. The month-long effort to support 10 Catholic Charities food pantries will take place March 1 through 31, 2010.

 Last year, our 10 food pantries in Cook and Lake counties served an extra 70,866 people. That’s a 46% increase.  Many of those helped have said to us, “I’ve never had to ask for help before. I’ve worked all my life to take care of myself and my family.”

To help increasing numbers of families and individuals in crisis, Catholic Charities is asking the public to collect donations and non-perishable food items to bring to their emergency assistance sites. The donations will be given out daily to those in the greatest need who come to the pantries for food.

Donations are being accepted at 10 locations from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The locations are:

• Chicago:  1120 W. 79^th Street, 60619 – (773) 846-3018
• Chicago:  3129 W. Jackson, 60612 – (773) 638-1152
• Chicago:  4537 S. Ashland, 60609– (773) 376-9425
• Chicago:  721 N. LaSalle St., 60654 (312) 655-7525
• Cicero:  1400 S. Austin Boulevard, 60804 – (708) 222-1491
• Des Plaines:   1717 Rand Road, 60016 – (847) 376-2100
• South Holland:  16100 Seton Drive, 60473 – (708) 333-8379
• Summit:  7438 W. 61^st, 60501 – (708) 563-2407
• Waukegan :  671 S. Lewis, 60085 – (847) 782-4000
• Worth:  7000 W. 111^th Street, 60482 – (708) 430-0428

 Thanks to a partnership with NBC-5 Chicago, Catholic Charities’ staff, volunteers and supporters will kick off the Have a Heart Help Your Neighbor Campaign in a special way on March 5 by gathering on the NBC 5 Plaza on Michigan Avenue from 6 a.m. til noon to collect donations from the public. NBC News morning personalities will join Catholic Charities in raising awareness about the increased needs for food in the greater Chicago community.  

In addition to dropping off donations in person at the locations above, those interested in supporting the Have a Heart Help Your Neighbor Campaign may give by phone by calling (312) 655-7012, or mail checks or money orders payable to Catholic Charities, with “Have a Heart” in the notation line, to: 721 N. LaSalle, 4^th Floor, Chicago, Illinois, 60654. They may also give online at:  www.catholiccharities.net/neighbor.

Catholic Charities serves anyone in need, regardless of religious belief, economic circumstance, age or ethnic background.   

Financial contributions are valuable in the fight against hunger due to Catholic Charities ability to buy food at a much lower cost than the consumer thanks to partnerships with food banks. For example, a donation of $9.50 will buy 9 gallons of milk (at a cost of just over $1 per gallon). Or, for the market price of one name-brand box of cereal, Catholic Charities is able to purchase 12 boxes of comparable cereal.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is one of the largest private, not-for-profit social service agencies in the Midwest, annually assisting 1.1 million persons in Cook and Lake counties without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background. Catholic Charities fulfills the Church's role in the mission of charity by providing compassionate, competent, professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities.