Local Food Pantries and Nutrition Resources Available During the SNAP Suspension

With the federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) temporarily suspended as of November 1, many East Central Illinois residents are turning to community food resources for support. The Illinois Department of Human Services estimates that 1.9 million Illinoisans will go without new food benefits this month — including families with children, adults with disabilities, and older adults. 

Fortunately, local food pantries, mobile markets, and nutrition programs are stepping up to fill the gap. Below is a list of key programs and tools available in Bloomington-Normal and surrounding East Central Illinois communities.

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Find Food IL Community Food Map

The Find Food IL Map is a statewide online tool from the University of Illinois Extension that helps residents locate nearby:

• Food pantries and meal site

• Farmers markets and grocery stores that accept SNAP, LINK, and WIC

• School and summer meal programs

• Older adult nutrition resources

You can view the map in English, Spanish, or French, and even print a list of nearby locations.
🔗 Visit: FindFoodIL.org

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🥫 Bloomington-Normal Food Pantries and Bus Routes

Several pantries in McLean County provide consistent weekly and monthly food distributions, many conveniently located along Connect Transit bus routes

For route tracking and updates, download the Connect Transit app (available on Android and iPhone) to locate the nearest bus stops and view live bus times.

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🚚 Eastern Illinois Foodbank Mobile Pantries

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) operates mobile food distributions across East Central Illinois, including counties such as Champaign, Coles, Douglas, Macon, McLean, and Vermilion.
These events provide free groceries for households facing food insecurity, with no registration or proof of income required.

You can find an updated schedule here:
🔗 eifoodbank.org/help/mobile.html

To locate a permanent pantry near you, use EIF’s interactive map:
🔗 eifoodbank.org/map.html

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Additional Resources and Support

• 211 Illinois – A 24/7 directory of food, housing, and health resources statewide.
  Visit search.211illinois.org or dial 2-1-1 to be connected with local help.

• Older Adult Services – Many senior centers and agencies (like ECIAAA and LifeSpan Center) offer congregate or home-delivered meal options.

• Local Churches and Community Centers – Many provide emergency food boxes, community meals, and referrals during the SNAP pause.

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How You Can Help

Community food banks and pantries currently provide 1 meal for every 9 meals SNAP typically covers. 

To support ongoing efforts:

• Donate funds to your nearest food pantry or to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.

• Volunteer to assist with food distribution events.

• Spread awareness by sharing resources like FindFoodIL.org and eifoodbank.org.

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Together, East Central Illinois Can Stay Nourished

While federal assistance programs are temporarily disrupted, our local organizations are working tirelessly to ensure no one goes hungry.
Use these tools, share them with neighbors, and check back regularly for updates on SNAP benefit restoration at snapfederalimpact.illinois.gov