By Ellen Kobe

More than 100 guests at the Catholic Charities weekday suppers on the Near North Side received more than a meal Tuesday. They also heard a live jazz concert.

The performance kicked off Chi-Town Jazz Festival, a four-day music event at various venues around the city. Proceeds from the festival go toward fighting Chicago hunger.

Every one in six people in Cook County is food insecure, according to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. In the past five years, the jazz fest has raised $132,000 for Chicago-area food pantries and hunger organizations.

“What I hope [is that] they are edified by the beauty of it because they face so much hardship,” said the Rev. John Moulder, founder and director of the festival. “I also hope that they know that the jazz community cares about them and is doing at least what they can to make a difference in their life.”

Chi-Town Jazz Festival performance times, locations and ticket prices are available at chitownjazzfestival.org.