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 falling short.
✔ It’s the retired veteran choosing between medicine and meals.
✔ It’s your friend who lost their job.
Food insecurity is everywhere—even in communities you wouldn’t expect. But Feeding Illinois and programs like SNAP and Farm to Food Bank help families get back on their feet. Every day, families make impossible choices:
✔ Pay the electric bill or buy groceries?
✔ Fill the gas tank or put food on the table?
✔ Skip fresh food because it’s too expensive?
Did you know? In Illinois, 1 in 8 residents faces food insecurity, including thousands of children and seniors (Feeding America). In rural communities, access to fresh, affordable food is even more limited due to fewer grocery stores and higher food costs. Families in rural areas often travel 20+ miles just to find fresh food (USDA Food Access Research Atlas). Rising costs of essentials make it harder for households to maintain a balanced diet. SNAP and food assistance programs provide critical support, yet nearly 20% of eligible households aren’t enrolled due to stigma or lack of access (Illinois Department of Human Services).
But there’s good news—together, we can change this. Through farmers, food banks, food pantries and advocates like you, we can build a food-secure future.
Hunger isn’t hopeless because when we fight for each other—we all win.
Change the Conversation Around Hunger.
Use your voice to fight hunger!
Story: A Mother Fighting for Her Family
Lisa never thought she’d need help. She works full-time, but after rent, childcare, and gas, there’s little left for food.
Did you know? Even full-time work isn’t always enough. More than 60% of food-insecure families in Illinois have at least one working adult—yet they still struggle to afford enough food (Feeding America).
Thankfully, a local food bank connected Lisa with resources like SNAP and fresh produce from Farm to Food Bank.
“I felt seen for the first time,” Lisa says. “I wasn’t just a number—I was a mom trying to do my best.”
Thousands of families like Lisa’s live paycheck to paycheck, struggling to afford enough food—even when they work full-time.
Illinois Farmers Are Fighting Hunger
Farmers don’t just grow food; they help feed their communities. Through programs like Farm to Food Bank, Illinois farmers donate fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat to food banks—food that might otherwise go to waste.
Did you know? Food waste and hunger are deeply connected. Each year, nearly 30-40% of food in the U.S. is wasted—while millions of families struggle to afford meals (USDA Economic Research Service). When farmers donate surplus produce, it means fewer children go to bed hungry.
Rendleman Orchards in Southern Illinois has donated over 500,000 pounds of peaches and apples, providing nutritious food to thousands of families.
Grain for Good, a Feeding Illinois program, allows grain farmers to donate a portion of their harvest, which in turn helps provide much needed ground pork from local hog farmers to local communities.
Illinois farmers are stepping up to fight food insecurity, but they need strong policies and funding to continue making an impact.
Support Farmers Fighting Hunger
The Power of SNAP in Illinois Communities
Did you know? SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) does more than feed your neighbors—it strengthens communities and fuels the local economy (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities):
✔ Every $1 spent on SNAP generates $1.70 in economic activity.
✔ Most SNAP dollars are spent at local grocery stores, boosting Illinois businesses.
✔ Children with access to SNAP perform better in school and have better long-term health.
Yet nearly 1 in 5 families who qualify for SNAP in Illinois don’t enroll—often because they don’t know they’re eligible (Illinois Hunger Coalition). Expanding access to food assistance could mean fewer children going to bed hungry and more seniors getting the nutrition they need.
How You Can Make a Difference
Advocate for Food Assistance.
Contact your state and federal legislators to support policies that fight hunger in Illinois. Advocacy is one of the most powerful ways to fight food insecurity in Illinois. By speaking up for policies that support food assistance, we can ensure families in need have access to critical resources.
Other Ways to Help
✔ Change the conversation around hunger. Share real stories and facts to fight misinformation.
✔ Volunteer at food banks to make an immediate difference in your community.
✔ Support Illinois farmers and the local food system that helps feed their neighbors.
✔ Donate to keep food banks stocked and ready to serve in times of crisis.
The Bottom Line
Hunger doesn’t belong in Illinois—a state that grows so much food. Through farmers, food banks, and advocates like you, we can build a food-secure future.
The fight against hunger starts with you. Join us today!
Sources
- Feeding America. Hunger in Illinois. https://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/illinois
- Illinois Department of Human Services. SNAP Eligibility Data. https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=135774
- USDA Economic Research Service. Food Waste in America. https://www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. SNAP’s Economic Impact. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-boosts-retailers-and-local-economies
- Illinois Hunger Coalition. SNAP Enrollment Gaps. https://ilhunger.org/
- USDA Food Access Research Atlas. Food Deserts in Rural America. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/documentation