Participants in the Chicago JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge can help the Greater Chicago Food Depository fight hunger via a virtual food drive and by bringing nonperishable food donations to the race on May 21.

Greater Chicago Food Depository,
Corporate Challenge partner in food drives

CHICAGO, April 23, 2009 — The Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) and the 28th annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge would like to invite the anticipated 23,000 Corporate Challenge runners and walkers to join in the fight against hunger.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, beneficiary of the May 21 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Grant Park, has launched a Virtual Food Drive that all Corporate Challenge participants can easily engage in. All donations raised through the Virtual Food Drive will be earmarked to help the Food Depository purchase nutritious, high-quality food for hungry individuals and families in Chicagoland.

Through the Virtual Food Drive, the Food Depository can purchase food in bulk quantities, at prices well below the market rate. All the items on the Virtual Food Drive have been identified by the Food Depository as ones that are in high demand.

Please click here to begin your contribution to the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Virtual Food Drive.

Corporate Challenge participants will also have the opportunity to bring nonperishable food donations to the 3.5-mile race on May 21. If each of the 600-plus participating companies brings one 40-pound, copier-paper box of food, the Greater Chicago Food Depository will have more than 24,000 pounds, enough to stuff a truck full. All participants will receive information closer to race day on where to specifically find the GCFD truck on-site at Grant Park.

The mission of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago's food bank, is providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in the community. The Food Depository has 600 member pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in Cook County. In the past year, the Food Depository has seen a 33 percent increase in the number of people turning to pantries. Many of the people seeking assistance are newly unemployed and have never sought assistance before.