Chicago, IL – February 23, 2007 – The average car weighs approximately 4,000 pounds.  The Chicago Christian Industrial League (CCIL), one of the largest organizations serving the homeless, collected more than 19,000 pounds of canned goods and non-perishable items at their food drive during Chicago’s Auto Show last week. 

Sharing the wealth…

Not only will CCIL residents and the CCIL Community Food Pantry benefit from this abundance of food, Virtuous Women Ministries, a faith-based service for women facing obstacles in their lives, and Image Builders Outreach Ministries, a faith-based agency providing assistance to

ex-offenders, will be taking advantage of the goods.

CCIL Executive Director Judy McIntyre laughs, “We have enough cans to open our own grocery store.  We’ve got everything from gourmet Wolfgang Puck to humus….all in a can…we’re thrilled!  It’s unbelievable how generous the Auto Show participants have been this year and thanks to their generosity, we’ll be able to help so many less fortunate people.”

In perspective…

16 ounces/pound….an average size car weighs approximately 4,000 pounds.

1 short ton = approximately 2,000 pounds

1 can of soup = approximately 12 ounces

If you’ve never seen over 19,000 pounds of food, contact Jenny Brandhorst at jennybrandhorst@theleague.org to arrange an exclusive can-viewing and tour before everything is gone!