2024 Hunger & Health Illinois Summit-Springfield

Join us for the 2024 Hunger & Health Illinois Summit! Hosted by Illinois SNAP-Education
Summit Goal: Catalyze collaboration among local, public, and regional organizations around addressing food insecurity and health.

Check-in will be held from 8:30-9:30 in the morning.  A conference agenda will be available when you arrive.  
The cost of registration is $10. Lunch is included. Fee waivers are available.

Pre-Conference: Food Handlers Training will be available from 7:30-9:00 am.

Springfield Conference:

When:  March 20, 2024

Where:  The Salvation Army of Springfield

              1600 E Clear Lake Ave.

              Springfield, IL 62703

As we work to fight hunger, new approaches are emerging to help break down barriers and create innovative solutions. In this breakout session, partners who are employing cutting-edge solutions to fight hunger will be featured to share their experiences. Delve into strategies for the future of fighting hunger in our pantries including ideas like online ordering, hosting a pantry in a new space, varying distribution methods of food, use of social media/web to advertise pantries or services, and more. 

Creating a Community of Belonging
Join us for an engaging breakout session that shines a spotlight on successful community collaborations. In this session, we'll feature insightful partnerships that have effectively integrated community input into their processes. Explore examples, ranging from surveying pantry guests to understand preferred food choices, establishing advisory boards composed of food pantry guests, to orchestrating special community events. Discover how these initiatives have not only fostered meaningful connections but also empowered communities to actively shape and participate in decision-making.  

TEFAP Myths 

Join us in this breakout session as we dive into The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). TEFAP plays a critical role in providing essential food assistance to those in need, yet it is surrounded by myths and misinformation. 

This session aims to empower participants with accurate knowledge and foster a more informed and supportive community.  

**TEFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost.  

Food as medicine is a phrase that is being used quite often these days, even in food pantries and food banks. Join us to learn what Food as Medicine is and how food pantries and food banks can partner with healthcare facilities to implement and expand Food as Medicine programs. 

Awards will be handed out in the following categories:  Exceptional Food Pantry Manager, Healthy Pantry Initiatives, Outstanding Health Equity Leader, Innovative Food Programming and Volunteer of the Year. Any organization is eligible to apply for awards including, but not limited to:  schools, food pantries, food banks, etc. Please follow this link for further descriptions and to nominate a pantry, individual or organization for an award. https://go.illinois.edu/HHSNominateCentral

General Information

The event will be hosted by the University of Illinois Extension.  
 

*If you will be applying for a fee waiver, please select the check payment option.  Please select this link to fill out the application for a fee waiver: https://go.illinois.edu/HHSFeeWavier