Fresh Food Fulfillment

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August 2018 View more

Amazon recently visited the Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB) to deliver something unique: Instead of its iconic smile boxes, the online retailer offered its expertise to help the food bank streamline operations and maximize valuable resources. As part of Amazon’s Community Kaizen program, the company shared its more than 20 years of intelligence and innovation to help serve local families. Associates from Amazon fulfillment centers in Illinois also visited the food bank to pack and sort food donations.

“We’re excited to continue working with Amazon to improve operations,” says Julie Yurko, NIFB’s president and CEO, about the relationship that has expanded since the May 2018 opening of NIFB’s Joliet distribution center. “As we open the South Suburban Center to better serve our communities, their experience and generous donation are invaluable to the work we do.”

Govind Singh, site leader at one of Amazon’s Joliet fulfillment centers, adds: “With the food bank even closer, we are excited to continue building our relationship, sharing best practices and supporting Northern Illinois Food bank’s mission to fight hunger.”

At the conclusion of the event, Amazon surprised NIFB with a $10,000 check to support its operations, which provide food to a network of 800 northern Illinois food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, plus youth and senior centers.