In Illinois, nearly 1.4 million people struggle with hunger. Among them: 453,260 children. Fortunately, nearly 100 food pantries throughout the southernmost 16 counties collaborate to address this need. Together, they form the Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network.

Thanks to a recent donation from Ameren Illinois and supplemental funding from Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH), the Southern Illinois Food Pantry Network awarded six mini-grants in December. These mini-grants, totaling $10,000, will help reduce hunger and improve the health and well-being of our communities.

Grant recipients include:

Marion Salvation Army Food Pantry

Victory Dream Center of Carbondale

Daystar Community Program in Cairo

Murphysboro Food Pantry

Shawnee Development Council in Anna

Turning Point Hands of Hope Food Pantry in McLeansboro

The funding is intended for pantries working toward the implementation of healthier initiatives. The mini-grants can be used in any way that helps support the network’s mission and vision of providing access to healthy and nutritious food, education and resources to residents faced with food insecurity.