Please join Harvest of Hope Food Drive - Excepting Donations through December 14th

 
 

Dear Parish and School Leaders,

As Cardinal Cupich recently shared, from November 29 through December 14, parishes and schools across the Archdiocese will join the Harvest of Hope food drive. This effort responds to the growing number of families struggling with food insecurity in Cook and Lake Counties, as well as recent disruptions in SNAP benefits that have placed additional strain on local food pantries.

Your leadership and parish engagement are essential to making this effort successful. Together, we can support pantries at parishes throughout our archdiocese, one of the largest networks in our region.

Parishes that have an existing food pantry ministry are welcome to participate in the archdiocesan-wide effort by promoting an extra collection and/or separating out certain donations for the larger food drive. Participating parishes are asked to collect a specific set of five food items (to balance variety across the archdiocese) and will bring all donations to designated vicariate hubs, from which Catholic Charities will distribute to the network of Catholic food pantries across Cook and Lake counties.

Resources and Next Steps for Participating Parishes/Schools

Ads and Flyers with Specific Food Items Requested. For this food drive, each Vicariate is collecting a unique set of five food items. The flyers indicate which items are requested of parishes in each vicariate and can be updated with your parish contact name so parishioners know who to reach out to if they have any questions. 

Vicariate Hub Drop-off Details. To simplify logistics, participating parishes will bring food items to designated vicariate hub parishes. A member of the vicariate team will contact you with details about drop-off timing and logistics. Catholic Charities will take it from there.

Draw Us Together Prayer Resource, which offers ways to ground our service in reflection and petition, helping volunteers and parishioners center their efforts in the mission of Christ.

Cardinal Cupich Letter to the people of God for inclusion in bulletins over the coming weekends inviting them to participate.

  • Volunteer Opportunities – If you have some extra time and are willing to help Catholic Charities sort and package food for delivery to Catholic food pantries, sign up here: https://www.ccofchicagovolunteer.com/.

  • Financial gift alternative: Parishioners or parishes that would rather make a financial contribution can do so. Catholic Charities seeks to raise $500,000 in emergency funds to purchase fresh produce, dairy, and meat for families in need. Every gift makes a difference.  Visit https://www.catholiccharities.net/help-us-provide-essentials/ to give a gift through Catholic Charities secure giving page

Timeline:

  • November 29 – December 14: Participating parishes/schools collect food.

  • December 15 – 17: Parishes/schools bring collected food to designated Vicariate Hub.

  • December 16 – 23: Catholic Charities will pick up food from the Vicariate Hubs and engage volunteers to supplement donations with fresh produce and proteins, sort and package these resources. Catholic Charities will distribute to Catholic food pantries.

If you have any questions, please contact your Director of Vicariate Operations.

As Cardinal Cupich has reminded us, we must do what is right and necessary to assist those in need ensuring that our actions reflect the Gospel and the mission of the Church. May we see Christ in the faces of those who call upon us in a moment of struggle.

Thank you for your leadership and generosity in this important effort.

Peace,

Bishop Larry Sullivan, Vicar General

The BuzzMaria Tubay