Illinois Extension, Year In Review 2021

FRESH FOOD DRIVES

With the help of Tazewell County Health Department (TCHD) 17 fresh food drives were held during Hunger Action Month (HAM). Emily Waite, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Food Pantry manager in Peoria, sent Parkside Fitness in Pekin, a thank you for the donation of fresh fruits and vegetables. By offering produce, pantries can promote health and help guests manage diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. The HAM campaign is just one effort of the Food Pantry Network - HOI. Through the network, Extension SNAP-Ed staff work alongside TCHD and partners from the area food banks and food pantries to support and enhance the local charitable food system.

Hunger Action Month brings awareness, nutritious foods, and support for local charitable food system

September is deemed as Hunger Action Month® (HAM) by Feeding America in an effort to mobilize action around hunger nationally. One in ten of our neighbors in Illinois struggle with hunger every day, according to Feeding America. In an effort to bring recognition and awareness to the issue of hunger and food insecurity within our local communities, the Food Pantry Network – Heart of Illinois (HOI) recognized September as Hunger Action Month. Online Campaign As part of the month, Food Pantry Network – HOI utilized local data from the Community Health Needs Assessment, food pantry survey, and other national data points to create daily social media posts aimed at raising awareness. Additional posts highlighted work that local organizations are doing to address hunger and food insecurity in Central Illinois. Throughout the month, 61 unique posts were shared on the campaign to raise awareness. Fresh Food Drives Food plays a big role in people’s health and impacts whether or not people can lead an active, healthy life. After receiving feedback from both pantry guests and pantry volunteers that fresh produce was needed at food pantries, 17 fresh food drives were held in September. By offering fresh produce pantries can promote health and help guests manage diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Hunger Proclamations Over 40,000 people in the Food Pantry Network – HOI’s region are considered food insecure. As an effort to address this issue, two hunger proclamations were submitted, accepted, and presented to our community. One was for the City of Peoria through the assistance of Midwest Food Bank and Peoria Area Food Bank. The other proclamation was through the Tazewell County Board with Food Pantry Network – HOI. By utilizing partnerships and working together, Hunger Action Month was a great success.

“We know food insecurity is very real in our local area. Thank you for helping the St. Paul’s Food Pantry in our mission to provide nutritious food!” EMILY WAITE, pantry manager

Hunger Action Month campaign go.illinois.edu/HAM2021