Food and Nutrition

Understanding core health and wellness topics are an essential aspect of your family's overall well-being.

From food safety to nutrition to chronic disease prevention and management, Illinois Extension is committed to helping families across the state and beyond live the best versions of their lives. Learning more about heart-healthy eating, managing diabetes, or how long to keep food, freeze or dry food, and safely store it can lead to healthier living. Are you interested in providing worksite wellness classes in your local business, school foodservice training, bringing nutrition or food safety education into a high school classroom, or need your Certified Food Protection Manager Certification? Contact Lisa Peterson, nutrition & wellness educator, about upcoming programs, scheduling programs, and any nutrition or food safety-related questions, or check out a non-exhaustive list of potential program offerings.

Healthy Recipes, Keeping Food from the Garden Longer, and More

Selling Food Made in the Kitchen at the Farmers Market

Have you considered selling your homemade foods at a farmers market? There are basic guidelines that growers and vendors must observe in preparation for farmers market sales.

How to Freeze, Can, and Dry Food for Preservation

Ever wonder what to do with all your garden produce or perhaps you bought too many items at the Farmers Market? Don't worry, University of Illinois Extension will guide you in how to safely preserve and store your fresh fruits and vegetables.

Feeding my Baby: From Cradle to Table

Feeding My Baby is designed to help you make informed decisions as your baby transitions from cradle to table.

Social Media

Follow @dashofwellness on Instagram for easy step-by-step photo recipes focused around diabetes, heart healthy, and/or celiac-friendly recipes! Find University of Illinois Extension classic recipes as well as new ones the Nutrition and Wellness team has developed!

Sit around our table and follow @family.finances.food on Facebook or Instagram. Find practical, research-based information for your family from University of Illinois Extension educators as we share our best tips for raising kids, eating healthier, and spending smart.

Nutrition and Local Food Resources

Putting Wellness to Work

Putting Wellness to Work Program Brochure
Putting WELLNESS to WORK is a University of Illinois Extension program.

This workplace wellness series will help you:

Gain understanding in topics that affect your health
Achieve confidence to make positive health choices
Improve health behaviors for a better quality of life

Find local food pantries in Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties

Christian County

Blue Mound/Boody/Stonington Food Pantry
305 North Bolls Street, Blue Mound, IL 62513
Phone: 217-820-3988
Hours: Saturdays from 8 - 10 AM

Edinburg Food Pantry
314 North Grant Street, Edinburg, IL 62531
Phone: 217-825-3144
Hours: Saturdays from 9:30 - 11 AM (emergency help available during the week)

Midland Area Food Pantry
600 Tower Place, Kincaid, IL 62540
Phone: 217-237-2342
Hours: Wednesdays from 1 - 2:30 PM

Morrisonville-Palmer Food Pantry
309 SE 6th Street, Morrisonville, IL 62546
Phone: 217-827-0587
Hours: Thursdays from 2:30 - 3:30 PM

Pana Loaves and Fishes
200 W 2nd Street, Pana, IL 62557
Phone: 217-562-4175
Hours: Mondays from 9 AM - Noon; Fridays from 3 - 5:30 PM

Pana Christian Church Food Pantry
1005 East 6th Street, Pana, IL 62557
Phone: 217-562-3629
Hours: Tuesdays from Noon - 1 PM

Tacusah Outreach Food Pantry of Assumption
104 North Business 51, Assumption, IL, 62510
Phone: 217-226-4209 or 217-979-2555
Hours: Saturdays from 9 - 11 AM

Taylorville Food Pantry
1429 East Main Cross, Taylorville, IL 62568
Phone: 217-820-5174 or 217-454-6015
Hours: Tuesdays from 8:30 - 10 AM; Thursdays from 5:30 - 7 PM; Saturdays from 8:30 - 9:30 AM

Jersey County

Grafton Food Pantry
118 East Main Street, Grafton, IL 62037
Phone: 618-786-3344
Hours: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 9 - 11 AM

Jersey Township Food Pantry
720 State Highway 16, Jerseyville, IL 62052
Phone: 618-498-3719
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 11 AM - Noon
*Can receive items once a calendar month

Salvation Army Service Extension
813 West Carpenter, Jerseyville, IL 62052
Phone: 618-498-6669
Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays from 9 AM - 1 PM

Cross Point Church
104 N. Public Road, Fieldon, IL 62031
Phone: 618-535-3112
Hours: 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month from 9 AM - Noon; Open-door policy

St. Vincent DePaul Society of Jersey County
506 South State Street, Jerseyville, IL 62052
Phone: 618-556-0675; call number to inquire
Food pantry, hygiene items, and laundry items are located at 309 South Washington

Macoupin County

Brethren Church
334 West Dean, Virden, IL 62690
Phone: 217-965-3422
Hours: 2 -3 PM every Tuesday

Brighton Food Pantry
119 East Vine, Brighton, IL 62012
Phone: 618-491-0174
Hours: Thursdays from 9 - 11 AM; 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6 - 7 PM; If Thursday is a holiday, will open Tuesday before from 9 - 11 AM

Carlinville Food Pantry
55 Carlinville Plaza, Carlinville, IL 62626
Phone: 217-854-4511
Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9 - 11 AM; Wednesdays from 2 - 4 PM

Gillespie Caring Center
100 North Macoupin Street, Gillespie, IL 62033
Phone: 217-839-4085
Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9 - 11:45 AM - can only receive once a month

Girard Food Pantry
135 West Madison, Girard, IL 62640
Phone: 618-924-0290
Hours: Saturdays from 9 - 10 AM

Mt. Olive Care Center
120 East Main Street, Mt. Olive, IL 62069
Phone: 217-999-4781
Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays from 10 - 11:30 AM

Northwestern Palmyra Food Pantry
109 East Lewis, Palmyra IL, 62674
Phone: 217-638-2826
Hours: 2nd Saturday of the month from 7 - 9 AM

Martha’s Food Pantry
278 Keating Street, Shipman, IL 62685
Hours: Every 4th Monday from 9 - 10 AM

Staunton Helping Hands Center
219 West Main Street, Staunton, IL 62088
Phone: 618-635-2267
Hours: Tuesdays 9:30 - 11:30 AM; Wednesdays 5-7 PM

Montgomery County

Calvary Baptist Church Food Pantry
1001 Rountree Street, Hillsboro, IL 62049
Phone: 217-532-3035
Hours: By appointment only (call number above)

Montgomery County CEFS
8353 South State Route 127, Taylor Springs, IL 62089
Phone: 217-532-5971
Hours: Wednesdays & Thursdays from 9 - 11 AM & 1 - 3 PM; Fridays 9 - 11 AM

Coffeen Community Food Pantry
210 Barry Street, Coffeen, IL 62017
Phone: 217-534-2222
Hours: 3rd Tuesday and following Saturday of the month from 8 - 11 AM

Harvest of Hope Food Pantry
109 South Hamilton Street, Hillsboro, IL 62049
Phone: 217-560-7533
Hours: Sign up basis (call number above)

Irving Food Pantry
103 Cedar Street, Irving, IL 62051
Phone: 217-533-4520
Hours: The first Saturday of the first full week of the month
from 1 - 3 pm. Serving Irving only.

Litchfield Food Pantry
102 South Montgomery, Litchfield, IL 62056
Phone: 217-324-4264
Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 1 - 2:30 PM

Nokomis Food Pantry
118 South Spruce Street, Nokomis, IL 62075
Phone: 217-971-0892
Hours: 4th Wednesday of the month from Noon - 3 PM

Panama Blessing Cabinet
121 Gum Street, Panama, IL 62077
Phone: 217-851-0140
Hours: Open 24/7, but is closely monitored
This pantry operates on the principle of “take what you need, give what you can.”

Panhandle Food Pantry
317 East Broad Street, Raymond, IL 62560
Phone: 217-229-3074
Hours: Saturdays from 8:30 - 10:30 AM

Salvation Army/Emergency Food Pantry
237 South Main Street, Hillsboro, IL 62049
Phone: 217-532-5059
Hours: By appointment only (call number above)

St. Clare Food Pantry
603 North Madison, Litchfield, IL 62056
Phone: 217-324-2800
Hours: Mondays 10 AM - Noon; Wednesdays 6 AM - 2 PM; Thursdays 10:30 AM - Noon

Witt Food Pantry
25 West Park Avenue, Witt, IL 62094
Phone: 217-594-2455
Hours: 3rd Thursday of the month from 10 - 11 AM
*Call a week in advance so items can be prepared

Local farmers markets in Christian, Jersey, Macoupin, and Montgomery counties

Farmers Market Guide

Find out "What's in Season" throughout the year in Illinois

What's In Season in Illinois

How to store your summer produce

Storing Your Summer Harvest