CHICAGO (AP) — Gov. Pat Quinn is reminding state residents to support food banks around Illinois during the holiday season and throughout the year.

In a news release, Quinn’s office says the governor visited the Greater Chicago Food Depository the day before Thanksgiving to help volunteers prepare holiday meals.

Quinn’s office says there are eight food banks around the state and, according to Feeding Illinois, there are more than 1.9 million people in the state who don’t have access to nutritious food. The Greater Food Depository alone provides food for more than 142,000 people every week — nearly 37 percent of whom are children.

Quinn is urging people to volunteer at food banks in their communities and donate to them.

For more information about the Greater Chicago Food Depository, visit www.ChicagoFoodBank.org.

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