Abbott and its philanthropic foundation have pledged a quarter-million dollars to ensure thousands of Northern Illinois children don’t face empty pantries when school cafeterias close for the weekend.
The $250,000 grant from Abbott and Abbott Fund to Northern Illinois Food Bank’s BackPack Program will provide weekend meals to 2,000 food-insecure children throughout the school year — translating to approximately 225,000 nutritious meals across nine counties where child hunger has surged by 32% since 2019, according to a statement released Wednesday.
Rising Need Meets Corporate Response
“No child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said Melissa Brotz, President of Abbott Fund and Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and External Affairs at Abbott. “Nutrition is foundational to health, and we’re proud to support Northern Illinois Food Bank and invite others to join us – whether by volunteering, donating or simply spreading the word.”
The BackPack Program operates in partnership with 190 schools across the region, where one in nine children face food insecurity. Each backpack contains shelf-stable food sufficient to feed a child and up to three family members during weekends and holidays when school meals aren’t available.
Beyond financial support, Abbott employees have actively participated in the initiative, volunteering at a packing event at the Food Bank’s Lake Forest facility to prepare backpacks for distribution.
Federal Cuts Compound Hunger Crisis
The donation comes at a critical moment. Recent congressional action has slashed nearly $200 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through increased work requirements and other restrictions, creating what the Food Bank describes as a “perfect storm” of increased need and decreased resources.
How bad is it? Northern Illinois Food Bank projects these federal funding cuts will create a $3–4 million funding gap while potentially increasing monthly demand by 60,000 to 80,000 additional neighbors seeking food assistance.
“The BackPack Program is a vital resource for children who may otherwise go without adequate nutrition when school is not in session,” explained Julie Yurko, President and CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank. “Now more than ever, we’re turning to partners, like Abbott, to help. This generous grant enables us to continue serving thousands of students and their families, giving them access to the food they need to thrive.”
Scaling to Meet Demand
The Northern Illinois Food Bank already provides a staggering 250,000 meals daily across 13 counties through a network of over 900 food pantries, shelters, and feeding programs. This massive operation relies on nearly 1,000 volunteers and multiple distribution centers in Geneva, Lake Forest, Rockford, and Joliet.
In response to the federal funding crisis, the organization has launched a Community Response Fund to help offset lost resources while continuing its advocacy for long-term solutions to address the root causes of hunger.
Abbott Fund, established in 1951, focuses on creating healthier global communities by investing in science, expanding healthcare access, and strengthening communities through collaborative approaches.
“While we work to meet immediate needs, we remain focused on long-term advocacy to address the root causes of hunger and ensure all Northern Illinois neighbors have access to the food they need to thrive,” Yurko notes — a reminder that even as corporate philanthropy helps fill weekend backpacks, the broader challenge of childhood hunger requires sustained commitment from both private and public sectors.
