Bike for Food - National President/CEO Raises Money for Food Pantries

Bike for Food - National President/CEO Raises Money for Food Pantries

    The hill gets taller and taller, but Western Catholic Union President and CEO Mark Wiewel plans to get up plenty of momentum as he attacks the hill, and growing area hunger problem, with a full head of steam.
     This summer, for the fourth straight year, Wiewel rides his Easy-Racer recumbent bicycle nearly 400 miles to raise money for food pantries in Quincy, Joliet and Chicago IL.  Last year he was able to raise $12,000, and this year he hopes for more.  Fundraising for the food pantries will continue throughout the summer.
     "The area food pantries are seeing more need each year, and this is my way of helping out," Wiewel said.
     Quincy-area food pantries represent a nationwide trend.  According to Stamp Out Hunger there's more need than ever before.


                                                                        Stamp Out Hunger:
• One in eight Americans struggle with hunger today. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 36.2 million Americans live in food insecure households, and approximately one in every three of these Americans is a child.
• A recent survey conducted by Feeding America of their food bank members reported
a 30 percent increase in requests for emergency food assistance. The most prominent contributors to increases in demand included rising cost of food, increasing unemployment and underemployment, the cost of fuel and mortgage/rent costs.
• In Minneapolis, the agencies of Second Harvest Heartland report increases in demand by 30 percent, with some agencies reporting increases of as much as 50 or even 100 percent, all of which are "record" levels.
• In New York City, the agencies of City Harvest reported a 20 percent increase in demand since June.
• The Greater Chicago Food Depository recently reported a 32 percent increase in
individuals turning to member agencies.
• The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank reported serving nearly 6,600 more households (an increase of 41 percent) and an additional 21,000-plus individuals (an increase of 43 percent) compared to September 2007.
• Bank of Orange In Orange County, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County agencies are reporting a 40% average increase in demand for food assistance. Currently Second Harvest Food County is serving over quarter million individuals at risk of hunger
in Orange County.


    As part of the Bike For Food fundraiser Western Catholic Union matches up to $500 for each of the local pantries. Donations may be sent to Catholic Charities, Madonna House, Quanada, Salvation Army, Ladies of Charity and St. Francis Food Pantry, all of Quincy.  Donors need to write the word "BIKE" on their checks to be eligible for the WCU match.
     Local volunteers noticed an increase in need last year, and even more this year. "There is a huge impact from today's economy," said Barb Hicks of Madonna House.  "We are seeing a huge increase in the number of families, as well as more working-class families."
    Quanada in Quincy also reports serving 14% more families this year than in 2008.
     Rose Gott, a volunteer with the St. Francis Food Pantry agrees.  "We expect our need to increase considerably by the middle of summer," she said.  "We've always helped families in our parish, but now we see a lot more people from the community."  The food pantries are not only in need of donations, but volunteers, as well.
     Catholic Charities in Chicago is quite concerned about fulfilling the need.  "Since the first of the year we have seen a 40 percent increase in people coming in for food," said Margaret Hughes.  "We are very worried about keeping enough food on hand to help all who need it."
     Wiewel is joined on the bike ride by his son, Matt.  Their ride is part of the Grand Illinois Trail and Parks Bicycle Ride, beginning at Seneca IL High School, close to Interstate 80 and near the beginning of the I&M Canal Bicycle Trail.