People will gather over the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends to count their blessings.
While the holiday feast is plentiful for many, some people fear a lack of food access leaves them with little to celebrate.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced last week that food providers in predominantly rural, remote and underserved communities in Illinois and nationwide will receive an additional $500 million to purchase fruits, vegetables, and nuts to stock their pantries.
USDA Undersecretary Jennifer Moffitt said the state will receive millions.
"For Illinois," said Moffitt, "$28 million is going to the state of Illinois and will be distributed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture."
The $500 million is in addition to $1.5 billion in funding since 2022 for emergency food providers nationwide.
Moffitt said the funding is about connecting farmers and food with the Emergency Food Network to bring that product to local communities.
This will enable farmers to sell their products at a good price to food banks and pantries, grocery stores and restaurants.
According to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, around 12% of Illinois households faced food insecurity between 2021 and 2023.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank echoes the status of food pantries around the country. The need is growing, but supplies are not keeping up with the demand.
Food Bank Director of Media Relations Katie Herity said the organization is serving a record number of neighbors, so the USDA grant will help significantly.
"Last year, we served 90 million meals throughout our service area, which is 13 counties in rural and suburban northern Illinois," said Herity. "Donations have slowed down, and so we continue to reach out to help raise awareness and welcome all food donations."
Herity claimed that after the pandemic, the number of donations slowed but the number of neighbors reaching out for help increased - serving double the pre-pandemic level.
She said volunteers are crucial to the food bank's daily operations in helping food distribution.
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Mississippi families struggling with food insecurity are bracing for another difficult summer after state officials declined millions in federal funding meant to help feed low-income children during school break.
The decision affects more than 324,000 children statewide and leaves families with fewer resources at a time when school meal programs are unavailable.
Sarah Stripp, director of socioeconomic well-being for the nonprofit Springboard Opportunities, works with families in federally subsidized housing and said the rejection of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer EBT program puts additional strain on struggling households.
"We know that many of our families struggle to be able to provide food for their families during the summer when they are not receiving those meals during the school year, which affects their ability to be able to do any of the things they want to do," Stripp explained. "If they're hungry, their children are hungry. That limits what they are able to do."
Gov. Tate Reeves cited a desire to reject "attempts to expand the welfare state" as the primary reason for opting out. Under the Summer EBT program, eligible families would receive $40 per month per school-aged child, amounting to $120 per child for the summer in grocery benefits.
Springboard Opportunities is stepping in to provide cash assistance to Jackson families living in federally subsidized housing but the organization can only reach a fraction of those in need. Stripp pointed out without federal aid, families are forced to redirect money from other essential expenses, such as gas and child care, to afford groceries.
"To not be willing to take federal funding that would go directly to families, that would be spent at local grocery stores, at farmers markets, to prevent summer food insecurities," Stripp observed. "To me, it's a baffling choice."
Stripp called on policymakers to listen to families' real struggles rather than rely on outdated narratives about poverty. While some school districts and community groups provide summer meal programs, many families in rural areas lack access to these resources due to transportation barriers and program limitations.
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The final deadline is approaching for members of the Texas Legislature to decide on participating in the Summer EBT program, which provides grocery benefits to low-income families with students.
The state did not participate in the program last summer.
Clarissa Clark, government relations officer for the North Texas Food Bank, said if lawmakers do not meet the March 1 deadline, they are essentially leaving federal dollars on the table.
"It's $450 million in federal taxpayer money that comes back to the state," Clark pointed out. "It helps with those who are food insecure, and it also puts money back into our economy, so there's a lot of wins to it."
To qualify for Summer EBT, families must meet the income requirements for the National School Lunch Program or be certified for school meals through SNAP or Medicaid.
The North Texas Food Bank is one of 80 organizations in the Texas Food Policy Roundtable calling for the program's implementation. The food bank could receive up to $60 million in benefits and help nearly 500,000 children in 12 north Texas counties.
Clark noted child hunger increases during the summer because students do not have access to school meals.
"The initiative provides low-income families with school-aged children, with $120 in food benefits on a debit card," Clark explained. "They can use that to buy food. If they don't get the summer meals, demand at our partner pantries goes up."
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission needs direction from the legislature to move forward with the program for Summer 2025.
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Indiana farmers are helping food pantries meet rising demand for protein.
The program helping meet the moment is not new; however, it is being rebranded as Hoosier Hogs to Homes.
Jeanette Merritt, director of communications for the industry organization Indiana Pork, said the program started in 2009 and has provided one-point-six million ground pork meals to families in need.
"We launched the 'Million Meals Program' with the thought that we were encouraging our pig farmers, community members, agricultural businesses to donate either ground pork or funds to Feeding Indiana's Hungry," Merritt explained.
The nonprofit Feeding Indiana's Hungry said protein is one of the most requested items at food pantries. Families rely on ground pork because it is versatile and easy to cook. The program works to ensure food pantries can consistently provide the critical food item.
The contributions allow food pantries to buy and distribute ground pork statewide. Merritt emphasized the generosity of Indiana Pork farmers demonstrates the strong connection between farming and community well-being.
"Farmers are one of the most generous groups of people out there, and they're the last people ever to raise their hand and want to be recognized for it," Merritt contended. "We want to put the spotlight also on our pork industry about how much they give into their food pantries."
Feeding Indiana's Hungry reported food pantry lines continue to grow, and demand shows no signs of slowing. Hoosier Hogs to Homes highlights the essential role of agriculture in addressing food insecurity. The effort shines a light on the ongoing need for protein as food insecurity persists across the state.
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