Rockford Orthopedic Associates donates $34,255 to food bank

Staff Report

Rockford Orthopedic Associates presented Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) with a $34,255 donation Jan. 11 to support the food bank’s efforts at solving childhood hunger in Rockford.

Don Schreiner, Rockford Orthopedic Associates CEO, presented the donation to Pete Schaefer, president and CEO of the NIFB, at Patriot’s Gateway Community Center, one of 19 children’s programs the food bank provides suppers or snacks to in Winnebago County.

“This generous donation from Rockford Orthopedic Associates and its employees will greatly help Rockford children at risk of hunger,” said Schaefer. “Nearly 27 percent of Winnebago County children face hunger. This donation will help us continue to provide nutritious food to approximately 1,500 Winnebago County children each weekday through our Child Nutrition and BackPack Programs.”

The food bank’s BackPack Program provides children at risk of hunger a weekly backpack of food for the weekend, enough to feed the child and up to two family members.

The donation was raised by Rockford Orthopedic Associates employees at their annual holiday party and is the largest donation to date from the long-time supporter of the food bank. Over the past nine years, Rockford Orthopedic Associates has donated more than $227,000 to the food bank’s child nutrition program.

“Rockford Orthopedic Associates is proud to support the efforts of Northern Illinois Food Bank to solve childhood hunger in our community,” said Schreiner. “Ensuring children have the nutrition they need to live healthy, active lifestyles is important to our staff.”

NIFB partners with more than 50 food pantries and other feeding programs in Winnebago County to provide food to those in need. To learn more about NIFB, log on to www.SolveHungerToday.org. If you need food assistance, visit http://www.SolveHungerToday.org/GetHelp or call (815) 639-1257.

From the Jan. 16-22, 2013, issue

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