“As a company, Belgravia Group recognized the financial challenges many federal workers have been facing during this period, and we wanted to help in a way that provided immediate benefit,” said Liz Brooks, vice president of sales and marketing for Belgravia Group. “We approached the Greater Chicago Food Depository, as we have worked with them before and know they are a wonderful resource to the community. It turned out the Food Depository was providing support to workers who are furloughed or working without pay, so they developed a plan for our contribution to stretch every dollar of our donation for maximum relief.”

The Belgravia Group donation will be used for specific programs from the Food Depository that support the workers who are furloughed or working without pay. Because food banks, including the Greater Chicago Food Depository, have seen a sharp increase in need due to the shutdown, donations like the one from Belgravia Group help fill the growing gap between the organization’s resources and the increased needs of federal workers not receiving paychecks, some of whom are facing food insecurity for the first time in their lives.

“The government shutdown has increased hunger and hardship across our community in a number of ways,” said Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO for the Food Depository. “We expect this increased need to continue for some time, even with this temporary reprieve. This is why we are so grateful for generous supporters like Belgravia Group who are stepping up to help us serve anyone in need of food.”

“I am so proud and lucky to be a part of a company that thinks of others and reaches out to help them,” said Sharl Ludwig, office administrator at Belgravia Group upon learning of the company’s donation. “It would be great to see this donation inspire others in Chicago real estate and other industries, as we all have a role in supporting the communities where we live and work.”