EIF Facts

Eastern Illinois Foodbank serves an 18-county area in Eastern Illinois covering just over 14,500 square miles.
At any given time, more than 100,000 people in eastern Illinois face food insecurity.
Since 2019, child food insecurity in eastern Illinois has risen by nearly 30%. 1 in 6 children currently experience hunger.
The Foodbank does not directly serve clients. We provide food to agencies like food pantries, soup kitchens, snack programs, and shelters who serve the hungry.
In the past year, the Eastern Illinois Foodbank provided 11.7 million pounds of food – including 2.2 million pounds of produce - to more than 170 agencies and programs feeding the hungry. That's the equivalent of 9.75 million meals for our neighbors in need.
Through our network of pantries alone, EIF distributed food to more than 350,000 people last year.
Last year EIF provided 76,000 lbs of food through 38 Foodmobiles in rural and under-served areas.
Through partners like Feeding Our Kids and Food 4 Kids, last year 58,000 backpacks of food were distributed to schoolchildren to combat weekend hunger.
500 students and their families were provided food through our School Market program last year.
Our volunteers repacked more than 18,000 pounds of food last year, and distributed more than 63,000 meals through Foodmobiles.
Our fleet of trucks traveled 184,000 miles last year, delivering food and picking up donated product.
Every donation to Eastern Illinois Foodbank can have a huge impact! Each $1 donated provides enough food to feed one of our neighbors for a day.
The Foodbank is an affiliate member of Feeding America; with its national network of food banks numbering over 200, Feeding America is the largest domestic hunger relief organization.
Contrary to popular belief, the holidays are not a time of great need for food relief agencies. In fact, summertime is generally a time of highest demand, because children are out of school and there are increased financial pressures on parents.