PEORIA, Ill. – “Hunger Action Month is about turning awareness into action,” says University of Illinois Extension Educator and HEAL Food System Partners Co-Chair Rebecca Crumrine.
“There are so many ways to make a difference, and when individuals, organizations, and communities work together, those actions can create lasting change for our neighbors.”
Crumrine says there are awareness and educational events going on all this week, leading up to this weekend’s Tri-County Hunger Walk.
“We are reading to youth a story called ‘Lulu and the Hunger Monster’, that teaches them about what hunger looks like, what is food insecurity. We’re out there doing food drives at different businesses,” Crumrine says.
Feeding America reports that over 43,000 individuals in the Tri-County Area lack sufficient access to food for a healthy lifestyle. Rising prices, changes to food assistance program participation rules, and reduced benefits have magnified food insecurity, leading many community members to rely on food pantries for assistance.
To help address food insecurity, the Partnership for a Healthy Community’s Healthy Eating/Active Living (HEAL) Action Team is hosting the 5th annual Tri-County Hunger Walk this Saturday, Sept. 26, at Peoria’s Donovan Park.
“It’s a Tri-County effort, so we’ll have pantries from Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford Counties there to collect donations that come in from the walk, to help feed our neighbors,” Crumrine says.
The walk starts at 9 a.m. and lasts about 30 minutes. Participants can register in-person prior to the start of the walk. The entry fee is at least one healthy, shelf-stable canned food item per walker, with all items donated directly to local food pantries.
For more details or to register, visit the Partnership for a Healthy Community.
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