AS HUNGER RISES BY 35 PERCENT, 1,200 CHICAGOLAND KRAFT FOODS VOLUNTEERS ROLL UP SLEEVES FOR FIRST-EVER GLOBAL WEEK OF SERVICE

Activities will take place today, Thursday and Saturday across Chicagoland. Projects include:

* Packing and sorting donated food for that will be provided to hungry families at Chicago Christian Industrial League, the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD), Lakeview Pantry, The Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB), People's Resource Center and St. James Food Pantry
* Leading "Olympic" events for kids to promote healthy lifestyles at Austin YMCA, Casa Central, Chicago Commons Taylor Center and Chicago International Charter School
* Planting community gardens at Bickerdike Redevelopment Corp.
* Using the alphabet to teach children about good nutrition at the Chicago Children's Museum
* Painting a healthy eating mural in a cafeteria at CARC, an organization for people with disabilities
* Providing seasonal maintenance for a vegetable garden at Chicago Botanic Gardens