FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grieving mother committed to serving months after burying her children
Martin Luther King “Do Good” weekend activities planned
From left: Ann, Ryan, Ashaun, Aubrey Jackson;
Seated: Aesha Jackson
(Flossmoor, Ill.) – Just over a month after burying her own daughter – and nine months after burying her son, Dr. Ann Jackson is using her pain to fuel a passion for service to others. She’s partnering with other local organizations to plan a MLK “Do Good Weekend” celebration with a classical concert and blood drive to raise money and awareness for food insecure families who are battling illness.
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Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Food Equity In Medicine Foundation (CFFEIM), Jackson is a 10-year breast cancer survivor herself. While in treatment for her own illness, Dr. Jackson learned of other families struggling with cancer as well as access to nutritious meals. In 2017, she created the Foundation to help feed the families. However, her efforts were stalled by the illnesses of own children - 29-year old twins - who died in 2024 due to complications of rare cancers.
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In April 2024, Ashaun Jackson died due to complications from a rare blood cancer and in December Aesha Jackson died after a three-year battle with a rare bowel cancer.
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Still, Jackson and husband, Aubrey, have continued delivering meals to families. Since 2020, volunteers and donors have served 8,709 individuals in 2,447 households across metropolitan Chicago. And, they remain committed to serving through sorrow. “We are grieving, however, we can grieve and serve at the same time. They can exist in the same space,’’ said Ann Jackson.
The upcoming three-day Do Good weekend kicks off on Saturday January 18 with a blood and food drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday's charity concert is the weekend highlight featuring student musicians from the Music Institute of Chicago at 4p.m. Violinists Alexandra Dreeson, Sasha Varchenko, Tristan Zhu; and pianists Sung Hoon Mo and Noah Kim will volunteer time and talent for CFFEIM’s mission.
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On Monday, CFFEIM will continue outreach with an extended food drive and day of service from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All events will take place at the Flossmoor Community Church, 2218 Hutchison Road.
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When asked about her inspiration, Jackson compared the various instruments of the Music Institute of Chicago to the symphony to life, which has strings of pain and joy. “Sorrow sits with me every day. I feel it in every part of my body- even my earlobes, but I choose joy – the life of my children and what they gave to the world during their lives.”
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For past event photos, visit the Center for Food Equity In Medicine Foundation site.
Zion Banks
Center for Food Equity In Medicine Foundation