Nurture connections and cultivate knowledge
The Southern Illinois Grow Gathering, hosted by the St. Louis Area Foodbank on Friday, April 11, highlights how Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) funding is redefining food banking. Through LFPA, St. Louis Area Foodbank has built relationships with Illinois farmers and distributed their fresh, high-quality foods on their mobile pantry. This gathering features tours of the St. Louis Area Foodbank distribution center, their FARM: Food Access and Resource Market mobile pantry, and Liberty Orchard.
Tentative Schedule:
- Morning: Tour of the FARM: Food Access & Resource Market mobile pantry (Collinsville, Illinois)
- Late Morning to early Afternoon: Tour of Liberty Orchard (Edwardsville, Illinois)
- Afternoon: Lunch and tour of St. Louis Area Foodbank (Bridgeton, Missouri)
What are Grow Gatherings?
Join the IL-EATS Grow Gatherings, half-day events across Illinois from February to September 2025. These gatherings bring together IL-EATS farmers, food access leaders, and community partners to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other. Each event features tours of IL-EATS farms, distribution sites, and lead agencies, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the journey of food from local farms to communities in need funded by Local Food Purchase Assistance. Attendees will network, share stories of challenges and successes, and lay the groundwork for positive change.
Event Highlights:
- Guided tours of IL-EATS farms and food access partners
- Engaging discussions and learning opportunities at each stop
- Networking with IL-EATS partners and local leaders
- Complimentary lunch
Pre-registration is required, and space is limited based on each host site’s capacity. IL-EATS is funded by Local Food Purchase Assistance.
