On Friday, October 14th, 2022, Lifeway Foods was honored by the non-profit organization, Nourishing Hope. Two companies with similar values, Lifeway partnered with Nourishing Hope during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since then, Lifeway has supplied the operation with more than 100,000 pounds of kefir to help provide nourishment for those in need. It’s a collaboration powered by compassion, showing no signs of slowing down. In the past fiscal year alone, Lifeway has provided Chicagoans with over 70,000 pounds of products through Nourishing Hope’s food access services, including Chicago’s first-of-its-kind Online Market.
“We are so grateful for the ongoing support of Lifeway Foods,” said Kellie O’Connell, CEO of Nourishing Hope. “Thanks to [Lifeway CEO] Julie Smolyansky and her team, families who turn to us for help have been able to receive healthy and delicious offerings like Lifeway’s probiotic Kefir drink.”
Lifeway is proud to be a part of this program, but there is still much work to be done. Nourishing Hope has served 9,000 people this fiscal year who were new to their services. Visits to Nourishing Hope’s food programs went up more than 40% compared to the same time period last year. A significant portion of this increase went to families with children. In fact, in September 2022, they served more than 1,600 families with children —more than double the number from September 2021. These figures show a clear indication that families continue to struggle with soaring food prices.
Nourishing Hope, formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, is a social services organization that has assisted people in need for over fifty years. The operation has helped Chicagoans overcome a number of obstacles, including food needs, mental wellness counseling, and job and housing assistance. The organization was rated the top score of 4 out of 4 by Charity Navigator, which praised Nourishing Hope for its stability, efficiency, sustainability, accountability, and transparency.
Lifeway, a leading force in the natural foods category since 1986, has a diverse catalog designed to support the microbiome. Among these products are Lifeway Kefir, Lifeway ProBugs, Lifeway Oat, and Lifeway Farmer Cheese. Lifeway products are packed with probiotics. Research has connected probiotics to improved gut health, immunity, and mental well-being. With a mission statement that includes a commitment to natural hormone and GMO-free ingredients, philanthropy, environmental responsibility, and local farming sustainability, Lifeway’s partnership with Nourishing Hope was a natural fit.
For information on how you can help Lifeway and Nourishing Hope with their mission to assist those in need, please visit: https://www.nourishinghopechi.org