Throughout 2020, visits to local food pantries increased on average by more than 50% and at times up to 150% during the height of the pandemic. These visits have been exacerbated by business layoffs, reduced hours and closures thus 
leading to more than 2.3 million new unemployment claims. This project was designed by association volunteers and staff to provide food for food insecure families and local food pantries experiencing exponential need due to the on-going pandemic and existing systematic inequalities that existed pre-pandemic.
To reach our objective of financially supporting in need families and the food pantries that support them, we designed this program and three integral sub-projects. This project included in-person efforts to purchase and deliver food and member donations to partner food pantries; online engagement to raise awareness of area food pantries, their needs, and service areas; and a grant program for local food pantries to expand their food offerings or facility in light of unprecedented need due to the pandemic. Overall, this project directly impacted over 7,400 individuals, engaged 153 association volunteers and 72 community partners.
This program sought to assist food insecure families and the food pantries that provide food assistance to families in need 
as a stopgap measure or a more permanent options. Since 2018, food insecurity or the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle has increased by 51% in our county. Unfortunately, experts in the hunger field anticipate the number to climb even more due to the ongoing pandemic. Throughout 2020, visits to local food pantries increased on average by more than 50% and at times up to 150% during the pandemic. These visits have been exacerbated by business layoffs, reduced hours and closures thus leading to more than 2.3 million new unemployment claims. According to a report by the Erikson Institute nearly 25% of children under the age of 5 in the county were living below the poverty line in 2016. The same report found that over 26% of income-eligible families were receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and that 80% of income-eligible families were receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Simply stated, the pandemic has increased food insecurity and has further demonstrated the systematic inequalities and racial injustices that existed pre-pandemic which led to Black and Latinx neighborhoods being disproportionately impacted by food insecurity. Food insecurity rates for these households were more than double white, non-Hispanic households. The effects of food insecurity stretch beyond just the moment, the pressure of not being able to meet a family’s basic need can lead to criminal activity and criminal justice system involvement on the part of a parent or youth and can have lasting effects on future generations.
This project was designed by association volunteers and staff to provide food for food insecure families and local food pantries experiencing exponential need due to the on-going pandemic and existing systematic inequalities that existed 
pre-pandemic. This project relied on three integral sub-projects designed to aid food insecure families and the food pantries that assist them throughout the county. This project included in-person efforts to purchase and deliver food and member donations to partner food pantries; online engagement to raise awareness of area food pantries, their needs, and service areas; and a grant program for local food pantries to expand their food offerings or facility in light of increased need due to the pandemic.
The first aspect of this project sought to connect area families to the farmers who grow and raise healthy and nutritious food while supporting local food insecure families. Through a scavenger hunt between local fire departments, member non-perishable food donations, association matched member financial donations, non-perishable food item donations, and fresh meat donations the association and its members supported local families and the food pantries that support them. This aspect of the project supported over 4,850 people in need while engaging over 55 volunteers.
The second aspect of this project focused on social engagement to raise awareness of area food pantries, their service 
and services provided. This aspect of the project enabled over 25 association volunteers to engage with over 100,000 urban consumers in conversations about food insecurity and the need to expand access to healthy and nutritious food grown and raised by local farmers. Volunteers partnered with 14 local pantries, over 4 months, and through 7 Facebook polls 11,000 consumers voted for their favorite food pantry. Food pantries receiving the most votes received a $350 donation and the second-place food pantry received a $150 donation. In addition, over 100,000 consumers engaged with the association through this project. As a result, the association supported over 800 people in need while engaging 25 volunteers and over 100,000 consumers. Unlike other social media programs, this program relied solely on organic Facebook activity as opposed to paid social media advertising.
The final aspect of this project was designed to aid food pantries during a time of tremendous need. Throughout 2020, 
to local food pantries have increased, on average, by more than 50% and at times up to 150% during the pandemic. These visits have been exacerbated by business layoffs, reduced hours and closures thus leading to more than 2.3 million new unemployment claims in Illinois. As more families relied on services provided by local food pantries, those pantries’ needs increased exponentially. To address partners’ needs, the association developed a grant program available to pantries. To receive grant funds, pantries had to be a registered 501(c)3 and located within the county. Pantries could self-nominate or a community member could nominate a pantry. Grant recipients and grant amounts were determined by 15 association volunteers. The grant program provided over 40 grants to local pantries and supported over 1,700 individuals during three separate grant periods.
This project combined three integral aspects, in-person efforts to purchase and deliver food and member donations to partner food pantries; online engagement to raise awareness of area food pantries; and a grant program for local food pantries to expand their food offerings or facilities. This project aided local food insecure families and the food pantries that serve them. Overall, this project directly impacted over 7,200 individuals, engaged 153 association volunteers and 72 partners.
