Simon Urges Holiday Help for IL Hungry

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Credit Chicago Press Release Services

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon is encouraging residents to spend some time this holiday season helping curb hunger. Simon wants to highlight volunteering time, giving money or donating food to help children, seniors and families access nutritious food while the economy continues to recover.

Earlier this week she and members of her staff volunteered at a food bank in Springfield, bagging apples for distribution. Simon says about 15 percent of Illinois residents are "food insecure." That means they don't have enough money to have a ready supply of nutritious food. For children, it's 22 percent of the population.