Illinois Communities

food pantry shelves with three women looking at food choices

Illinois Nutrition Education Programs provides education and resources through strategic partnerships where families eat, learn, live, shop, and play.

In 2021, SNAP-Education worked with 1,588 community agencies within 315 cities and 114 community networks across the state . Overall, SNAP-Ed works in 89 out of Illinois' 102 counties. By working together, SNAP-Ed and partnering agencies and organizations achieve greater collective impact and save money by avoiding duplication of services.

EFNEP provides programming throughout the year in five Illinois counties: Champaign, Cook, Madison, St. Clair, and Vermilion.

various types of lettuce growing in a garden bed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Community spotlight

After looking at the needs of food pantry managers and pantry clients via a survey in Tazewell and Peoria counties, it was clear that more access to fresh produce was a need. SNAP-Ed team members in the local Food Pantry Network collaborated with the health department and Community Garden Network to create a streamlined process for produce donations. Now, donation gardens and food pantries reach out when they are ready to receive or donate fresh produce. The local "Grow a Row" collaboration will then match donors and pantries to help spread the produce donations across the community and limit waste.