For Immediate Release
Eastern Illinois Foodbank Harnesses Collective Action This Hunger Action Month as Hunger Reaches New High
URBANA, IL (September 2, 2025) — September marks the 18th year Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, has organized a national call to action through Hunger Action Month. This Hunger Action Month, Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) is calling on east-central Illinois to come together once again to end hunger in America.
“People across the country have demonstrated immense care for their neighbors in crisis time and time again, helping to build stronger, more resilient communities,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Ending the hunger crisis in America is no different. When we all work together, alongside our neighbors facing hunger, we can find solutions to ensure that everyone has the food they need to thrive. This Hunger Action Month, our hope for the nation is to start building this new reality together, through unified action toward a shared vision of a hunger free America.”
Food insecurity in America has reached its highest rate in over a decade, reaching over 47 million people facing hunger, including 14 million children. Of the communities Eastern Illinois Foodbank serves, we see food insecurity range from a low of 9.9% in Piatt County to a high of 16.5% in Coles County.
“Eastern Illinois Foodbank is not immune to the rising costs and limited resources impacting the neighbors we serve,” said Foodbank President & CEO Kelly Daly. “This Hunger Action Month, we want everyone to know that no action is too small to make a difference as we work to meet a historic need. Through our generous community coming together, our mission of alleviating hunger for local families is possible.”
With the largest cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in history now signed into law, food and health care will soon be further out of reach for millions of people—including children. Hunger in America is a crisis—and together, we can meet this moment.
People can get involved locally through the actions below:
- Donate – Visit https://www.eifoodbank.org/action/donate/ to make a gift to EIF. Every $1 donated provides three meals to a neighbor experiencing hunger.
- Volunteer – Sign up to repack food for local families on Thursday, September 18 at the annual Operation Orange volunteer event at https://www.mobilize.us/eifoodbank/event/823909/, or bring the family to volunteer at the Kid Zone repack on Saturday, September 20: https://www.mobilize.us/eifoodbank/event/824726/.
- Raise Awareness – Wear orange on Tuesday, September 9 for Hunger Action Day to raise awareness of hunger. Post photos on social media and tag @eifoodbank.
- Learn more about how you can take action by visiting eifoodbank.org.
