Food Pantry Network - Heart of Illinois

Food Pantry Network Photo Albums

12 Days of Giving Social Media Graphics

group of people at Food Pantry Network meeting

Food Pantry Network Meeting - February 2020

group of people loading boxes of food into a vehicle. Midwest Food Bank truck in background.

Mobile Food Pantry - Mackinaw 2020

Mobile Food Pantry - Washington

brick wall background, blue image representing state of Illinois, words Food Pantry Network - HOI Cultivating Connections - Alleviating Hunger - Improving Health

Food Pantry Network – Heart of Illinois (HOI) is a partnership of local pantries, food banks, community volunteers, and organizations that work together to alleviate hunger and build a healthier community. This network of partners is led by University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Education in the Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit and Tazewell County Health Department.

Mission

The mission of the Food Pantry Network is to support, connect, and provide resources to those working within the emergency food system.This network of community partners strives to help alleviate hunger and build a healthier community.

Objectives

Procure and align food resources within the emergency food system
Connect organizations working in emergency food to resources and information
Addressing needs, gaps, and challenges in the emergency food system

Volunteer Opportunities

Food Pantry Network – HOI was created to bring those working in emergency food together. We hope to connect pantries, volunteers, and community members with helpful resources for pantries. Our network works primarily with organizations in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Mason, and Fulton counties and we strive to help support each other in feeding our communities, improving health, connecting pantries, and sharing resources. In choosing to volunteer for Food Pantry Network – HOI, you will be volunteering with one of our members and following their volunteer policies.Different needs will help with different food needs in our community and fill a much needed gap!

Volunteers may

Volunteer at a local food pantry and help with tasks such as distribution, packing, organizing
Help deliver emergent food boxes to families which may include driving, pick-up of food, and delivery
Volunteer at a mobile pantry which includes distribution, packing, unpacking, organizing

As we see a need in our community – we hope to find willing individuals to help!

Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month. Hunger Action month was started in 2008 by Feeding America as a way to raise awareness in communities about the existence of hunger and food insecurity.Locally, we coordinate events, print media, and online media all pointed at education about the local needs and how best to support them. In 2023, HAM projects include social media education, proclamations made by city and county government, Tri-County Hunger Walk in Peoria, special HAM toolkit, Lightup the Murray Baker Bridge on Sept. 1, and food drives for local food pantries. go.illinois.edu/walk2023

Greenlight Shopping List

Holiday Meal Guide

As food pantries throughout Central Illinois prepare to give away food boxes for Thanksgiving and Christmas, U of I Extension and Food Pantry Network work together to share those details.

Any local organization or pantry who would like to be added to the list, contact Rebecca Crumrine, SNAP-Ed program coordinator, racrumi@illinois.edu

2023 Holiday Meals Guide

Food Pantry and Emergency Food System Mapping

Find Food IL Map: go.illinois.edu/FindFoodIL
Heart of Illinois United Way: dial 2-1-1 or 309-999-4029

Food Pantry Network Highlight Videos

FPN - HOI 2020 Year in Review: go.illinois.edu/FPN2020
Utilizing Emergency Food Assistance: go.illinois.edu/emergencyfood

Connect with Food Pantry Network

If you are a pantry or food bank in our area, please feel free to join us online at:

About Food Pantry Network - Heart of Illinois Fact Sheet

This fact sheet includes the 2024 FPN meeting schedule.All meetings are set for 1:30 to 3 p.m. Meeting location rotates to various FPN member locations. Join the FPN listserv to stay up to date on meeting locations and plans.