Food Insecurity and Inflation in Illinois

Hunger Action Month starts today. It's a program that Feeding America started in 2008 with the hopes of raising awareness around hunger and food insecurity. According to Feeding America, more than a million people in Illinois face hunger. More than 300 thousand of those are children. The pandemic and, more recently, inflation have intensified those problems. More U-S households have turned to food banks, food pantries and other sources to meet their needs.

The 21st spoke to the Executive Director of Illinois Hunger Coalition, the Food Sourcing Manager for River Bend Food Bank, the Vice President of Development for Eastern Illinois Foodbank and a volunteer and board member of Daily Bread Soup Kitchen to talk about the effects of hunger and how society’s dealing with it.

Guests:

Diane Doherty
Executive Director, Illinois Hunger Coalition

Chris Ford
Food Sourcing Manager, River Bend Food Bank

Amanda Borden 
Vice President of Development, Eastern Illinois Foodbank

Ruth Ann Evans
Volunteer and Board Member, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen