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Food Access

Food Access

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Blog Posts

An abundant harvest: Donating garden crops to food pantries variety of garden produce organized on a table display including cauliflower, lemons, herbs, carrots, corn, tomatoes, egg plant and butternut squash
Read article: An abundant harvest: Donating garden crops to food pantries
An abundant harvest: Donating garden crops to food pantries
As the summer days pass by, garden harvest becomes a regularly performed task of our Master Gardeners. The demonstration gardens that were so...
boxes of vegetables with Local Food Purchasing Assistance logo and Extension logo
Read article: LFPA to strengthen Illinois food system
LFPA to strengthen Illinois food system
Illinois has $28M to support local farmers and fight hunger in Illinois through USDA’s Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) program. LFPA aims to...
Extension Master Gardener speaks to a group
Read article: Master Gardeners take an active role to address food security and access
Master Gardeners take an active role to address food security and access
In 2022, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) serving in Futon,...
two ladies with their backs to the camera stocking shelves at a food pantry
Read article: Nutrition policy is newest layer of SNAP-Education work at Canton First Baptist Church Food Pantry
Nutrition policy is newest layer of SNAP-Education work at Canton First Baptist Church Food Pantry
Health and wellness involves more than just nutrition education. People may know the “right foods” to eat or the “bad foods” to avoid, but...

News Releases

A freshly mulched donation garden.
Southern Illinois donation garden feeds the community
MARION, Ill. – Food insecurity affects every community within our state, but it's not just about hunger. It's about having access to food options that meet nutritional needs, which is particularly important for individuals and families with limited resources. Through collaborative...
box of food for food drive with a bow on it
12 days of giving campaign starts December 1
Join Carroll-Lee-Whiteside Extension in giving back this holiday season through the 12 Days of Giving. Favorite foods are an important part of the holiday season, often connected to comfort and memories. During this season of giving, you can make a positive impact on the lives of our neighbors...
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Help the 4-H Food Squad Fight Hunger in Your Community
A rising hunger crisis has prompted 4-H Clubs in Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, and Stark Counties to join forces and launch a community-wide food drive, and they're inviting the public to participate in the fight against hunger. The food drive will run from November 1 - December 15, 2023....
vegetables on a display crate
What is needed to create a long-term sustainable food system for Illinois?
URBANA, Ill. — Illinois food growers, distributors and activists voiced solutions for creating a more resilient and equitable food system in Illinois: support for growers and producers of all experience levels, investment in education and marketing strategies, and advocacy engagement to secure...

Videos

School and Community Gardens Learning Module

University of Illinois Extension has been considered Illinois’ go-to resource on gardening for over 100 years and we want to help you bring the garden into the schoolyard with our online School and Community Gardens Self-Paced Learning Modules.

A school garden can be many things, from a...

Staff