Thanks to great communities like Glendale Heights!

What a thrill today to hear that our Fox Chicago / Jewel-Osco Food Drive during Hunger Action Month raised nearly $2 million in donations!  Given our current economic climate, we didn’t expect to surpass last year’s total of $1.3 million. It’s heartwarming to know that people care about others even when they may also be in need.

Last month, Patrick Elwood and I met some amazing people while covering the food drive. From the man in Northwest Indiana who came out to donate a single can of beans to another man in the Southwest suburbs who added a single box of cereal, every little donation clearly added up.

All of it will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Midwest Food Bank and River Bend Food Bank where volunteers have seen demand about double over the past year.

Patrick and I proudly display the big check with our friends from Jewel-Osco & the Northern IL Food Bank.

To everyone who volunteered, to all the businesses that donated goods by the truckloads, to those who came out to donate into the bins during our live segments and to the countless others who donated during checkout at Jewel-Osco, THANK YOU!!!

Who's on first?

One morning show, 8 live segments, 1 taped report, 5 live interviews and over a HUNDRED guests!  That’s what I needed to juggle this morning for our “Good Day Chicago” food drive coverage at the Jewel-Osco store in Glendale Heights.  I hope I pulled it all off okay and didn’t look too frazzled.

What an amazing community!  Among the volunteers and donors;  the mayor, local police and fire departments, veterans, students from at least 4 schools and the incredibly enthusiastic staff from Jewel.  Among the grateful who’ll be distributing the food to the needy:  workers from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

I am always assigned “hit” times when I’m out on location.  But since it’s a live show, those times are always rough estimates. So I spend a lot of time “standing by”. In between, it’s great to meet and greet people as I continue to monitor our show through my earpiece. Segments often get changed around during the show.  There may be breaking news or a live studio guest running late – that’s the way it goes.

Cameraman Ed Flynn explains how the live truck works to students from Glenbard North HS.

It’s all worth it.  By 10 o’clock this morning, Jewel-Osco reported over $100,000 in store donations – $3,000 from the Glendale Heights community alone.   But this is only Day 10 of Hunger Action Month. C’mon, Chicagoland!  There’s still time to donate at your local Jewel-Osco or join our next live drive.

Give a little.  Feed a lot.

Our 2008 campaign brought in $1.6 million worth of donations!

Truth be told, there’s often grumbling and grousing in the newsroom over sponsored segments or special partnerships. It’s quite the contrary with a major campaign Fox Chicago is set to launch soon for Hunger Action Month.  We are teaming up with supermarket chain Jewel-Osco and a number of local food banks to help raise funds and reel in donations.

This is our second year working with the folks at Jewel and I can honestly say it’s one of the most rewarding assignments of the year.  My co-anchor Patrick Elwood and I will soon host live segments during “Good Day Chicago” to highlight the “Give a Little, Feed a Lot” campaign.  As you might guess, our economy and the dismal job situation has the current level of demand for help far outweighing the supply.

Jewel-Osco donates over 7 million lbs. of food throughout the year.

Throughout September, Jewel-Osco will be collecting cash and food donations at all of its 183 Chicago area stores.  Or come out and donate during one of our live segments.  The donations will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Midwest Food Bank and River Bend Food Bank.

I will never forget meeting a tearful woman in suburban Westmont last year. She had a small bag of items she could barely afford.  But she wanted to donate because she was so grateful to her local pantry. It takes so little to make a difference.  Please help us to help others.

Join in the drive LIVE!  ”Good Day Chicago” 6-10am on:

9/3 2340 N. Ashland, Chicago;  9/10 2164 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights;   9/17 805 Joliet Road, Dyer, IN;  9/24 9350 W. 159th, Orland Park