Hundreds Of Food Boxes Head To Humboldt Park Familes

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A forklift spent the morning moving hundreds of boxes of food stacked inside a semi-tractor trailer. Each box has 25 pounds of food and 10 pounds of personal items.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Lisa Fielding Reports

"The most we've ever fed is 50 families so that's to hit 400 at one opportunity, one shot, is a blessing to the whole community,"said Rafael Alverado of the Chicago Puerto Rico Lions Club.

Alverado says 400 families will be getting boxes of food and essentials.

"It shows there's a need. Some people actually showed up at 7:30 this morning," said Alverado. "The goal today is to try to make a difference anyway we can. Some people don't believe it's free."

Thanks to an anonymous donor and Feed the Children the organization was able to quadruple the amount of food boxes this year.

"There is such a need. In Chicago, the statistics are overwhelming. One in three children in Chicago are impoverished," said the donor. "We are blessed to be in the position to help others."

The boxes are filled with non perishable food like rice and beans and personal items like detergent and toothpaste. Each box is designed to help a family of four, for up to a week.