CHICAGO -

A week after announcing plans for the Atlanta leg of its baseball-themed community outreach, AutoTrader.com revealed that it is taking its hunger eradication efforts to Chicago, where it will work with dealers in the region as well some of the city’s baseball stars.

The site has teamed up with the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealers, the Chicago Cubs and their relief pitcher Kerry Wood for “Drive Away Hunger.” They will all collaborate in fundraising and collecting food for the Food Depository and  neighboring food banks in the region.

AutoTrader launched the program last year in its hometown of Atlanta and decided to expand it to the Windy City this year. Earlier this month, the company kicked off this year’s Drive Away Hunger efforts in Atlanta, where it is working with the Atlanta Braves and their legendary ex-hurler John Smoltz.

"We saw great success with the Drive Away Hunger program in Atlanta last year and expect to see similar success in the great city of Chicago this year,” explained AutoTrader director of community relations Michele Blondheim. “We have always been committed to making a difference in communities across the country, and we are happy to join together with our partners in the Cubs and Chevy to help drive away hunger in Chicago.”

Consumers can drop off canned food donations at participating Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevrolet stores through Sept. 17, and if they bring 10 or more, they are given a free ticket voucher for the Cubs’ Sept. 20 home game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Also, AutoTrader is donating $10 to the Food Depository each time a shopper test drives a new Chevy at one of these stores. Each driver taking the car for a spin is entered to win a Cubs VIP experience during the aforementioned game.

"I have always believed that Chicago has a big heart, and I have no doubt that we can stand together with AutoTrader.com, local Chevy dealers and the Chicago Cubs to help bring hunger relief to the individuals and families who need it most in our community," said Wood, the Cubs pitcher. "On behalf of The Wood Family Foundation, I look forward to seeing the residents in the city of Chicago help us in this effort to drive away hunger."

During the Sept. 20 game, as the program wraps up, the Food Depository will be collecting final canned-food donations. AutoTrader, dealer and Cubs representatives will reveal the final food collection and financial donation amounts at that game.

"The need for food assistance is growing, and times continue to be challenging for the people in our community," said Kate Maehr, executive director and chief executive officer of the Food Depository. "We’re grateful to AutoTrader.com, our local Chevrolet dealerships, the Chicago Cubs and Kerry Wood for their support and look forward to the impact that the Drive Away Hunger program will have on generating additional awareness of the issue and raising donations to help us meet the needs of those who face hunger in our community."

AutoTrader said the campaign generated tens of thousands of dollars in donations and included more than 11,500 pounds of food donations for the Atlanta area. This year’s program will last four weeks, whereas the 2010 efforts lasted two.

As reported in Auto Remarketing previously, the Atlanta leg of Drive Away Hunger will wrap up Sept. 16 in Atlanta, when the Braves take on the New York Mets.

For more information, visit www.autotrader.com/driveawayhunger.