The Illinois Food Bank Association (IFBA) is a coalition of the eight America’s Second Harvest food banks covering every part of Illinois.
Our purpose is to provide food for hungry people in Illinois and to educate the public about the vital role food banks play in addressing hunger.
IFBA is a highly-efficient organization of food banks—nearly 95 percent of our budgets go directly to food. Because the number of hungry people in Illinois continues to grow, our funding need is also growing.
This total is made up of hungry men, women and children who rely on the food provided by the IFBA.
In the last year the members of the IFBA distributed millions of pounds of nutritious food throughout the state.
The IFBA distributes food in partnership with its many community agency partners such as food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.
Almost 35 percent of those in need of food and meals provided by food banks are children under the age of 18—this demographic often gets their only meals through school breakfast and lunch programs.
Seniors on a fixed income often have limited or no resources for food once housing and medical expenses come out of their monthly income. Additionally, this is a growing demographic served by food banks.
Of the households served by the members of the IFBA are households 35-40 percent have one or more working adults.
Together the members of the IFBA are fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers who make the food bank system work. If equated into salaries, this number would be very cumbersome financially on already over-burdened food bank budgets.