Did You Know? Hunger in Illinois Doesn’t Look Like You Think Did You Know? Hunger isn’t just statistics—it’s your neighbors, real families, and real struggles. And hunger isn’t just happening in big cities. It’s in small towns, farming communities, and neighborhoods across Illinois. Hunger is not just someone else’s problem. ✔ It’s the single mom working two jobs but still …
On a cold Illinois morning, Sarah opens the last can of soup in her kitchen, carefully splitting it between her two kids. She works hard, but rising costs have stretched her paycheck to the limit. Tonight, like too many other nights, she wonders how she’ll put food on the table tomorrow. Sarah’s story isn’t unique. 1 in 8 people in …
What if the food grown in our own communities could be the key to fighting hunger right here at home? Our Feeding Illinois Grain for Good (G4G) program is answering that question by turning local harvests into meals for neighbors in need. This new year, the Grain for Good pilot program delivered 3,000 pounds of ground pork to the Open …
On August 3, 2023, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Act into law, marking a significant step forward in addressing food insecurity across the state. With $2.5 million in funding allocated for 2024, the program aims to connect Illinois farmers with those in need, ensuring that high-quality produce, dairy, and meat can directly benefit residents struggling …
The Illinois Deer Donation Program returns for its third donation season with an exciting new name: Hunters Feeding Illinois. This rebranding reflects an expanded partnership among Feeding Illinois, the Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network, and the University of Illinois Extension, bringing together hunters, meat processors, and food pantries to provide lean protein to Illinois families in need. Hunters can donate …
Feeding Illinois is proud to introduce its latest initiative, the “Grain for Good” (G4G) pilot program, a collaborative effort designed to combat food insecurity in Illinois. This innovative program encourages local farmers to donate a portion of their grain harvests, the proceeds of which will be used to purchase pork from Illinois hog farmers. The pork will then be distributed …
The Farm to Food Bank Initiative will work with more farms after a successful 2021 pilot project with Rendleman Orchards, according to Stephen “Steve” Ericson, executive director of Feeding Illinois. During the recent Live Local Conference, Ericson; Janie Maxwell, executive director of the Illinois Farmers Market Association (ILFMA); and Zach Samaras, technical assistance engineer with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, …
A young Woodford County farm family is feeling grateful after an influx of volunteers helped them harvest a two-acre food plot, with the fresh produce destined for area food banks. Alison “Ali” and Nathan Gibbs, of rural Benson, operate Nathan’s family’s commercial row crop farm that for 70 years produced nothing but corn, soybeans and wheat for delivery to local …
Food banks in Illinois got a special treat last year: more than 600,000 pounds of peaches, nectarines and apples. Marred by a dimple here or there, the fruit was bounty that previously might have been left to rot, deemed unsuitable for grocery stores. Instead, a three-year pilot program distributed tons of such fresh fruit to food pantries, shelters, senior centers …
David Nayak bought a Grundy County farm in October with a goal to impact lives and fight hunger. On July 28, the Chicago physician delivered fresh sweet corn to two food banks. “I think God is calling us to feed our state,” Nayak told FarmWeek the day after helping with his first harvest at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Nayak …
