On a bright, sunny day in early May, more than 30 advocates representing the Food Depository filed into two vans to make their way to Springfield, Illinois, to advocate for food equity.
Food Depository partners, staff, board members and alumni of our Food Equity Ambassador and Community Council for Food Equity advocacy training programs, attended the trip, all buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the day of advocacy ahead of them.
Representing our communities
“When the Food Depository asked me to come to Springfield, I immediately said yes, because this type of work is so important to me,” said Mounia Williams-Hardaman, director and coordinator of the South Shore United Methodist Community Center (SSUMCC) food pantry, and first-time Lobby Day participant.
Mounia Williams-Hardaman (second from the right), and other Food Depository advocates stop for a photo with Senator Bill Cunningham.
“I am an advocate for political awareness, so now it’s time to be on the other side of that, talking to the legislators and not the constituents. It’s exciting to represent my community and the community that the pantry serves.”
During a final training session in Springfield, Food Depository executive director and CEO, Kate Maehr, told the advocates, “Tomorrow is my favorite day of the year. The work that we are doing here in the capitol is so important. Each and every one of you that is here is making a difference and raising your voice for your communities.”
The next day, the advocates split into groups to meet with legislators, lobbying for two bills – Farm to Food Bank program and Access to School Breakfast.
Support for families and farmers
The Illinois Farm to Food Bank program aims to support families, farmers and food producers by purchasing Illinois-grown and -raised products for food banks and pantries. Last year, our Lobby Day participants advocated for the Farm to Food Bank bill – which passed unanimously in both chambers of the General Assembly shortly thereafter. This year we advocated to ensure the program was properly funded in the state budget.
Sophie Milam, VP of Policy and Advocacy, stops a senator in the hallway to advocate on behalf of the Food Depository.
“Fresh produce is the most requested item we get at the pantry,” said Williams-Hardaman, noting that the SSUMC food pantry has only two grocery stores in a 10-mile radius. “Before any canned goods, shelf goods, meat, anything, people want fruits and vegetables the most because those are the things that they don’t have access to.”
“If Farm to Food Bank gets funded, we could get that produce from our community to our community. It’s beneficial to us and the farmers.”
“To me, this is a no-brainer,” said Senator Mattie Hunter (D-IL) in reference to the Farm to Food Bank Bill, which she co-sponsored. “It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Our advocacy for funding for Farm to Food Bank was ultimately successful, and the General Assembly included our full ask of $2.5 million in the Illinois FY25 budget!
More meals for more students
The group also advocated for funding to create a grant program to help schools implement or expand Breakfast After the Bell programs, which are a proven model to boost school breakfast participation. This investment is especially important given that Illinois ranks 35th among all states in school breakfast participation and there is a clear link between breakfast and health and academic outcomes.
The Access to School Breakfast bill would have also eliminated the “reduced price” co-pay that some low-income families pay for school breakfast and lunch by mandating that the state cover those costs rather than the families.
Laverne Horgan (center), with other Food Depository advocates, staff, and board members, wait to meet with a legislator.
“All students deserve to be able to eat a healthy meal,” said Laverne Horgan, 85, coordinator of Church of the Holy Spirit Food Pantry, a Food Depository partner.
“Children all deserve to eat a morning meal, regardless of whether they show up on time or not, and regardless of whether they have money or not.”
Our advocacy made a difference, and the Breakfast After the Bell school grant program was funded at our requested $300,000! The reduced-price elimination was not funded in FY25, but we will continue to work with our state partners to ensure that all students have access to nutritious school meals.
Important impacts
At the end of the Springfield Lobby Day, the advocates’ efforts had a significant impact. They acquired multiple new bill sponsors in the Illinois Senate, as well as new commitments from Representatives willing to offer their support for the bills during the fiscal year 2025 budget discussions. Ultimately, the advocates collected enough support from General Assembly champions for both bills to be included in the final state budget weeks later.
A team of ambassadors meets Representative Mary Beth Canty.
“Coming here and talking to the legislators is important because we can make them aware of what’s happening within the communities we serve,” Horgan said.
“They have so many issues they’re dealing with, but seeing us in person, hearing what’s happening from the people that see what’s within the communities, that puts these issues to the front of their minds.”
On to Capitol Hill
Shortly after the Springfield visit, a group of advocates representing several of our partner organizations, including alumni of our Food Equity Ambassador and Community Council for Food Equity advocacy training programs, accompanied five Food Depository staff members at an anti-hunger Lobby Day in Washington, D.C. to talk about the Farm Bill.
Federal nutrition programs and the emergency food system work together to protect Illinois families against hunger and improve their access to nutritious food. Several of these programs, such as SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps), are authorized in the Farm Bill, making it a critical opportunity to strengthen our nutritional safety net to work better for Illinois residents.
In May, leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees released two very different visions for the Farm Bill. The Senate bill would protect and strengthen SNAP and make other critical investments in our nation’s nutrition safety net. In stark contrast, the House proposal would result in a $30 billion cut to SNAP over the next decade.
Food Depository advocates meet with Congressman Jonathan Jackson.
Food Depository staff and advocates met with every office in our congressional delegation to discuss the importance of protecting and strengthening SNAP, which is included in the Farm Bill, and to share impactful stories about hunger in our communities and the need for action. Members were appreciative of our work and eager to support our efforts to end hunger for all.
“Our collective Farm Bill advocacy is more important now than ever, as the House passed a harmful bill out of the agriculture committee,” shared Molly Dubow, Manager of Advocacy at the Food Depository.
“During this recent trip, Senators and Representatives serving Cook County communities were eager to discuss ways we can strengthen and protect SNAP, and wanted to know how they can support our anti-hunger work.”
A team of ambassadors meets with Senator Robert Peters.
Continuing efforts back home
As the advocates in both Washington D.C. and Springfield started their journey back to Chicago, they carried with them a sense of accomplishment and determination. Their voices had been heard, their causes championed, and their commitment to ending hunger reaffirmed.
“Everything about this trip was inspiring,” said Williams-Hardaman. “Learning from all the Food Depository staff, hearing people’s passion about ending hunger, it was really amazing. I’m excited to come back next year and do this again, but I also feel like this reinvigorated my passion to go back to my community and keep doing this work."
Share This Post
