THIS WEEK'S NAPERVILLE NEWS 17
YouTube FacebookTwitter Podcast
Subscribe to Podcast
Download newest episode!
Naperville News 17
Airing every day:
7:30 am, 12 noon,
6 pm, 9 pm, 11 pm, 1:30 am
Hunger: A Growing Issue in DuPage County
Hunger is not just an urban issue
NCTV17's Laura Swan Reports
Phanetti Lee first came to Naperville food pantry Loaves and Fishes in November 2009. The unemployed single mother says the help couldn’t have come soon enough.

“I don’t qualify for food stamps, so it is nice to have something to help in between,” Lee says.

A recent study conducted by the National Food Bank, Feeding America, shows a 168 percent increase in people needing assistance in the last five years. Other statistics in the study show one in eight people in DuPage County are hungry, forty-eight percent of them are children, and forty-three percent of households receiving food assistance have a working adult in the home.

That means, although employed, their jobs don’t provide enough income for all their families’ needs. And with rising living costs like healthcare, energy and housing, officials say people have to choose between those expenses and putting food on the table.

Christopher Strupp of Northern Illinois Food Bank explains, “What we are seeing are people who are working and earning an honest living, but are having trouble making ends meet.”

Loaves and Fishes food pantry reports around 100 new families coming each month since July of 2009. They’ve been serving Naperville residents for more than 25 years, and because of the increase in demand, they recently opened their doors to all DuPage County residents.

“This hunger study has certainly raised awareness, and through this we need to say that in a county like DuPage and a community like Naperville we will not let hunger affect the lives of each other, especially children,” says Charles McLimans, Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes.

And that means more food off the shelves and out the door to families in need.

“I know I will be employed again sometime, but for now I am grateful for the help I can get.” Lee said.
Learn more
RECENT STORIES
State Senator Bill Brady Wins Republican Primary
Will Face Gov. Pat Quinn on Nov. 2
NCTV17's Chris Casquejo Reports
Tips To Help Your Kids Eating Healthy
Get Them Craving Fruits Instead of Fries
NCTV17's Laura Swan Reports
Queen Bees and Wannabees
Author Rosalind Wiseman speaks to teen girls about conflict resolution
NCTV17's Sabina Bhasin Reports
Being Ready for the Worst
City Hall, State Prepare for Tornadoes
NCTV17's Alex Symonds Reports
Chile Earthquake Hits Close to Home
A Naperville Family’s Ties
NCTV17's Jennie Barger Reports
Classroom Conundrum
Could your child be moving schools?
NCTV17's Sabina Bhasin Reports
Hunger: A Growing Issue in DuPage County
Hunger is not just an urban issue
NCTV17's Laura Swan Reports
Naperville Doctor Returns from Haiti
Spent 10 Days Treating Earthquake Survivors
NCTV17's Chris Casquejo Reports
Luncheon Has a Super Guest
Former Bear Applies Football to the Boardroom
NCTV17's Alex Symonds Reports
Fill-up Could Cost You More
Possible Tax Increase Angers Owners
NCTV17's Alex Symonds Reports
MORE RECENT STORIES | ARCHIVES
Dr. Cuthbert Soup
Author of “A Whole Nother Story,”
NCTV17's Becky Anderson Reports
A Stent Saves Another Life
Mayor, Others Helped By Procedure
NCTV17's Alex Symonds Reports
Local Students Celebrate Black History Month
Waubonsie Valley High School Hosts Event
NCTV17's Chris Casquejo Reports
Home Energy Assessments
Federal Stimulus Money Can Help Your Bottom Line
NCTV17's Sabina Bhasin Reports
No. 1 Saints Fan
Local Fan Has Dream Month
NCTV17's Ben Hutchison Reports
Worldwide Hitchhiker
Frenchman Stops Into Naperville Along 5-Year World Hitchhiking Tour
NCTV17's Kevin Machak Reports
February Teacher Innovator Award
Maplebrook Teacher Gets Recognition For Bringing Technology Into Art Class
NCTV17's Kevin Machak Reports
Mayor Pradel Hospitalized
Mayor Suffers Heart Attack
NCTV17's Dolly McCarthy Reports
Minor Earthquake Hits Northern Illinois
No Damage, But Many People Stunned
NCTV17's Alex Symonds Reports
Love Everlasting
Love Advice from a Seasoned Couple
NCTV17's Jennie Barger Reports
Parent University 2010 - Kids and New Media
District 203 and 204 Sends the Parents Back To The Books
NCTV17's Sabina Bhasin Reports
Naperville Roots On Olympian
Evan Lysacek Skates in Vancouver
NCTV17's Ben Hutchison Reports
Filling Naperville’s Budget Gap May Mean Less Money for Special Events
Proposed Plan Includes Diverting 25% of the SECA fund
NCTV17's Laura Swan Reports
Primaries Bring Out Minimal Voters
Local Trend Seen Statewide
NCTV17's Alex Symonds Reports
National Girls and Women in Sports
The History of Women’s Athletes at North Central College
NCTV17's Jennie Barger Reports
Husky Heroes
Volunteers Looking to Give Dogs A Permanent Home
NCTV17's Kevin Machak Reports

NEWS POLL
Have you ever attended an Olympics?

View Results

RELATED LINKS
NAPERVILLE NEWS 17 SPONSORS
sponsors Amber Waves The Promenade Bolingbrook