There is something special about small, neighborhood grocery stores. The staff get to know their customers and can better meet their needs. The city of West Peoria is proud of their strong community support where families have lived for...

Collaborating across county lines and program areas has been a key to success for University of Illinois Extension programming, especially with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Ed). As the SNAP-Ed program continues to evolve and grow, staff have been able to work...

In May 2024, Brittany Chambers joined the University of Illinois Extension team as a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-...

People can turn on the local news, scroll through social media, or turn on their favorite food-focused television channel in order to “learn” how to cook. But none of those compare to hands-on, in-person cooking lessons. Local University of...

Fresh, local produce will be easier to access in the Havana community soon thanks to a new community garden project based at Mission of Hope. This garden’s purpose is to help feed neighbors in the Havana area. A group comprised of University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Education staff, horticulture...

The OrganWise Guys is a popular curriculum taught to kindergarten, first, and second graders by University of Illinois Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Ed) instructors. Characters with organ-inspired names “teach” the children about healthy lifestyle...

Many families struggle to have adequate access to enough nutritious foods to support an active and healthy lifestyle. There is no one answer to the issue and attempting to solve this struggle for families requires a multi-faceted, collaborative approach. University of Illinois Extension SNAP-...

By combining multiple programs into one event, University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Education staff have created a family-friendly event that quickly became a favorite activity for that youth and adults enjoyed together. PJs and Pancakes is just as it sounds...participants come dressed in their...

Building strong relationships with partners in the community is crucial for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Education) program. These relationships can lead to opportunities to provide additional nutrition programming, which will further the impact of SNAP-Education....

Staff from University of Illinois Extension and University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria (UICOMP) have been collaborating on a multi-year project with community organizations to expand public access to health and wellness resources. The health...

In the past year, three new educators have joined the University of Illinois Extension, Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit team. This new team of six worked together recently to showcase the expanded programs and knowledge base they offer locally to help make people and communities better. The 5-...

Incorporating craft projects into educational lessons has a unique way of bringing people, traditions, and learning together. It can also have physical benefits such as reduced tension and lower blood pressure. Local University of Illinois Extension staff have combined craft projects with health...

It is hard to comprehend how many people’s lives have been positively impacted by Rebecca Crumrine since 2017 when she was hired by University of Illinois Extension as an instructor to teach Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Education). In five short years Rebecca worked her...

When working in the charitable food system, one often focuses on a very important goal – nourishing neighbors in need. However, the needs of guests may go beyond physical nourishment. Food Pantry Network-HOI provided professional development to pantry managers and volunteers to help them better...

Educating people about nutritious foods and exercise is just the first step in helping people improve their health and wellness. Teaching people how to afford and cook the food, where to buy or how to grow the food, and how to have time to manage it all are other important pieces of the puzzle....

Health and wellness involves more than just nutrition education. People may know the “right foods” to eat or the “bad foods” to avoid, but availability and affordability can also be deciding factors. Recently First Baptist Church Food Pantry (FBC...

“We are not sure who has more fun at Illinois Junior Chef (IJC)….the youth or the staff,” Kaytlin Beekman, University of Illinois Extension SNAP-...

The large impact that hunger plays in the health of our communities is something that University of Illinois Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) works to promote in all their work. In March of 2022, Illinois SNAP-Ed had the chance to do this on a larger scale...

Healthy living is more than just what we eat and drink. Thanks to partnerships, University of Illinois Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education staff in Tazewell County enhanced their standard curriculum with additional hands-on activities and gifts for the youth and adult...

Food is a big part of our lives. It can be part of who we are, where we came from, and how we express ourselves. This is especially true when it comes to food and the holidays. In an effort to encourage and educate people how to keep their health a priority during the holidays,...

Food pantries serve as an invaluable asset in the community, providing both food and essential household and hygiene products to families in need. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church food pantry in Peoria looked to University of Illinois Extension’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP...

The success of a program starts with the instructor who delivers it. University of Illinois Extension has recently hired two new Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed) instructors who...

When your grocery shopping is limited to food pantry selections, eating healthy can be a challenge. A local coalition, Healthy Eating Active Living– Food System Partners (HEAL-FSP), understands the need for additional healthy food options...

While it is important to educate people about nutritious eating, it is equally important to teach them how they can afford nutritious foods on a budget. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Ed) staff at University of Illinois Extension staff offer Healthy Cents 12-part series...

Food plays a substantial role in health, and impacts whether or not people are able to lead an active, healthy life.  By working with multiple coalitions, University of Illinois Extension staff, Kaitlyn Streitmatter and Rebecca Crumrine, are making substantial improvements in the food options...

University of Illinois Extension staff from horticulture, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education (SNAP-Ed), and 4-H teamed up to provide training to teachers, administrators, parents, and master volunteers with the goal to help them understand how to start and maintain a school garden...

In 2019, Skye became an Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed instructor focused in Mason County. “I really enjoy teaching the young kids, but it doesn’t matter what age you are, nutrition is important to learn and there is always new information. I aim to educate people to help them increase their knowledge...

At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year Julie Dantone, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education instructor was presented with a unique challenge as she was kicking off the Organ Wise Guys curriculum at Dirksen Primary School in Pekin. How do you teach a child to check their pulse...

Nate Anton, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education Instructor nanton@illinios.edu “I teach nutrition to SNAP-Ed eligible youth and adults in the Peoria area. With the yearly increase of chronic diseases, many of which may be...

Kathy Ellis Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education Instructor keellis@illinois.edu “I teach young children in preschool, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades about healthy eating and taking care...

Julie Dantone, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education Instructor jfd@illinois.edu “Teaching those of all ages healthy eating habits and physical activity is rewarding, I did not realize there was such a need for food and food...

While the goal of food pantries is always to provide food to all in need, it is also important to provide it in such a way that help guests feel welcome and in control. First Baptist Church Food Pantry in Canton recently converted their layout, policies, and visuals to give guests a shopping...

Tara Agama, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education Instructor agama@illinois.edu “I teach preschoolers and early elementary students about healthy eating and how to take care of their organs. Many of my students and their...

With a priority of focusing on food as medicine, University of Illinois Extension staff teamed up with two partners to provide Heartland Health Services pediatric families a bundle of fresh produce in conjunction with nutrition education and resources as part of a 10 week pilot project. Extension...

Kellie Roecker, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education Instructor kroecker@illinois.edu  “I visit classrooms, housing communities, early childhood centers, lunchrooms, and food pantries to provide nutrition...

Rebecca Crumrine, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education Program Coordinator racrumri@illinois.edu “I work with partners, such as schools, food pantries, early childhood centers, and coalitions, to help affect change at...

Wasted food  has been a great challenge at many schools across Illinois. The mantra “It is not nutrition unless it is eaten” is espoused by many school nutrition staff trying their best to ensure students actually consume a nutritious and delicious school meal. SNAP-Education Educator Kaitlyn...

Krista Gray, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—Education Instructor kristakg@illinois.edu “One aspect of my job is to teach young children about healthy foods and exercise in order to keep their bodies healthy and strong....

Kaitlyn Streitmatter and Kayla Swaar, University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed) Educators from Fulton-Mason-Peoria-Tazewell Unit and Logan-Menard-Sangamon Unit respectively, presented at the 2019 National Child Nutrition Conference held in Chicago, IL.  With around 1,600 people...

The work being done through University of Illinois Extension programs and partnerships in Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties is recognized for its positive impact at many levels through the University system. College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) dean,...

When two more grocery stores closed in 2018 in Southside and East Bluff Peoria neighborhoods, University of Illinois Extension staff joined the team of policymakers, nongovernmental organizations, and activists working to eliminate disparities in equitable access to healthy food. The process to...

The Tazewell County Health Department recently honored Kaitlyn Streitmatter, University of Illinois Extension Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program— Education (SNAP-Ed) educator serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell Counties, at the 2019 awards banquet. Kaitlyn was one of five members of...

Having easy access to healthy foods is not always an option for some residents in Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties. Staff and volunteers at University of Illinois Extension are working together to provide healthy foods and education about preparing those foods to people in areas...