More than 1.8 million people in our state
live on $5 a day – can you?
During Hunger Action Month, Feeding Illinois challenges you to live on $5 a day for seven days. That’s the average SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefit, formerly named food stamps, for an individual in Illinois. Try it for a week, a day or even just a meal. It’s an exercise in empathy—a call to live in someone else's shoes for one week. By raising awareness of the barriers to accessing high quality, nutritious food on a food stamp budget, we hope to mobilize the public to end hunger in Illinois.
For seven days, from September 18-24, legislators, the media, supporters and the public will be taking the SNAP Hunger Challenge as part of the national Hunger Action Month. You can join us by registering on our blog. After you register ask others to join as well. Then throughout the week of the challenge share your experience on your blog and social media pages.
Hunger Relief on Your Illinois State Tax Form
Every day, Feeding Illinois food banks provide hungry families with access to healthy and nutritious food. As the need has continued to rise over the last few years, food banks are under enormous pressure to feed a growing number of people. The tax check-off enables Illinois residents to have a direct impact in fighting hunger in their state.
This tax season you can again give back while completing your income tax form by donating to hunger relief efforts across Illinois. The tax check-off program, now in its second year, makes it easier to donate at a time of sustained demand for emergency food.
By checking off “Hunger Relief” listed in Schedule G and entering your contribution amount on Line i, your donation will benefit food banks across the entire state of Illinois. All donations will be used for the purchase of food. To remain on the tax form each year, total donations from residents must reach at least $100,000. There is no limit to the amount an individual can donate.
Governor Quinn Announces Appointments to Commission to End Hunger
Back row from left to right: Gary Tomlin, Dan Lesser, Sen. Don Harmon, Tracy Smith, Barb Karacic. Front row from left to right: Kate Maehr, Rep. Lisa Hernandez, Juanita Irizarry, Marla Goodwin, Mary Ellen Abbott.
Governor Pat Quinn announced his appointments to the new Commission to End Hunger on March 2, 2011. The Commission, established by the legislature in 2010, will address the growing problem of hunger in Illinois by improving food security and nutrition through education, better coordinating services and increasing access to programs. Read more.
Feeding Illinois Names Sen. Harmon Legislator of the Year
Senator Don Harmon receives the 2011 Legislator of the Year Award from Kate Maehr, Board President of Feeding Illinois and Executive Director of Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Feeding Illinois presented its second annual Legislator of the Year Award last night to Senator Don Harmon of Illinois’s 39th district. A member of the state legislature since 2002, Harmon was recognized for his advocacy for greater access to emergency food for residents across the state and for co-sponsoring legislation to establish the Commission to End Hunger. Read more.
2nd Annual Anti-Hunger Conference Photo Gallery
Feeding Illinois (formerly known as the Illinois Food Bank Association) is a coalition of eight Feeding America food banks providing food to nearly 2000 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that feed nearly 900,000 residents across the entire state of Illinois. Feeding Illinois is committed to educating people about the role of food banks in addressing hunger and raising awareness of the need to devote more resources and attention to hunger issues.
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