The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will distribute a truckload of food to hungry area families at the Sullivan VFW Post 6410, 1146 State Hwy 32, 9-11 a.m. February 8. All Moultrie County residents who meet income eligibility criteria are welcome (see below).

The distribution is part of the Foodbank’s Foodmobile Program, a system of mobile food pantries designed to help bring nutritious food to areas of chronic or extreme need. Through the program, local companies and organizations are invited to contribute toward a one-day distribution of food and optionally participate in the distribution process. The cost to partner with the Foodbank on a Foodmobile distribution is $2,500.

The Foodmobile distribution comes at a critical moment for area residents. Data released by Feeding America, the nation’s network of food banks, shows that a staggering 15 percent of people in eastern Illinois are considered food insecure, which means they sometimes lack adequate access to food. More shockingly, more than 20 percent of children are food insecure.

“The number of people in eastern Illinois struggling to get food on the tables has been on a 10-year climb,” said Jim Hires, Executive Director at the Foodbank. “Eastern Illinois has been hit especially hard.”

All eligible residents of Moultrie County needing food are welcome to attend the Foodmobile distribution. To be eligible, a household must have an income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, or approximately $3,631 per month for a family of four. Other area Foodmobile distributions may be found by visiting the Foodbank’s website at www.eifoodbank.org and clicking “find help.”

Maximum monthly income per eligible household:(for each additional household member over eight, add $620):