Gov. Rauner signs bill broadening eligibility for food stamps - News - Journal Star - Peoria, IL

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — More Illinois families will be able to receive federal food stamps under expanded eligibility signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Legislation endorsed Tuesday by the first-term Republican governor raises the income limit for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Illinois to 165 percent of the poverty level, effective Jan. 1. The previous cap was at 130 percent.

Families that include someone who is elderly or disabled can receive food stamps if their income doesn't exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

The Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago estimates that the change will bring an additional $60 million in federal money into the state.

Gov. Rauner signs bill broadening eligibility for food stamps - News - Journal Star - Peoria, IL

Farm bill deal would cut food stamps by 1 percent - Yahoo News

 

The measure announced Monday by the House and Senate Agriculture committees preserves food stamp benefits for most Americans who receive them and continues generous subsidies for farmers. The House was expected to vote on the bill Wednesday, with the Senate following shortly after.

The compromise was expected to cut food stamps by about $800 million a year, or around 1 percent. The House in September passed legislation cutting 5 percent from the $80 billion-a-year program. The House bill also would have allowed states to implement broad new work requirements for food stamp recipients. That has been scaled back to a test program in 10 states.

Click on the following for more details:  Farm bill deal would cut food stamps by 1 percent - Yahoo News

The new face of food stamps: working-age Americans - Yahoo News

 

In a first, working-age people now make up the majority in U.S. households that rely on food stamps — a switch from a few years ago, when children and the elderly were the main recipients.

Some of the change is due to demographics, such as the trend toward having fewer children. But a slow economic recovery with high unemployment, stagnant wages and an increasing gulf between low-wage and high-skill jobs also plays a big role. It suggests that government spending on the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program — twice what it cost five years ago — may not subside significantly anytime soon.

Food stamp participation since 1980 has grown the fastest among workers with some college training, a sign that the safety net has stretched further to cover America's former middle class, according to an analysis of government data for The Associated Press by economists at the University of Kentucky. Formally called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or SNAP, the program now covers 1 in 7 Americans.

Read more by clicking on the following:  The new face of food stamps: working-age Americans - Yahoo News

Wine & Beer Tasting Benefit February 13, 2014

Accountants collect food for the pantry

Being hungry in the Rock River Valley a full-time job - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

By Jennifer Wheeler
Rockford Register Star

More than 16 percent of Winnebago County residents and 12 percent of Boone County residents do not have consistent access to enough food needed for a healthy, active life, according to a 2011 study conducted by Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

More than 90 agencies that distribute food operate in the Rock River Valley, each with its own set of rules for doling out food.

And even those who qualify to receive food must figure out the agency's hours of operation, how often they can visit and how to get there. Those with jobs must juggle work schedules. Many travel to multiple food-serving agencies each day, hoping to consume enough food to last them until their next meal.

Read more by clicking on the following:  Being hungry in the Rock River Valley a full-time job - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Hunger threatens thousands of Boone, Winnebago kids - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

 

By Jennifer Wheeler
Rockford Register Star
Posted Nov. 10, 2013 @ 10:00 am

ROCKFORD — One in four children in Winnebago County do not know where they will get their next meal, according to a 2011 study conducted by Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity.

In Boone County, it's one in five.

And unlike an adult who struggles to find enough to eat, a child can't earn a paycheck to pay for groceries or drive to a food pantry.

Click on the following to read more:  Hunger threatens thousands of Boone, Winnebago kids - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

Retailers Brace for Reduction in Food Stamps - Yahoo Finance

Retailers Brace for Reduction in Food Stamps

By Shelly Banjo | The Wall Street Journal –

The change will leave 48 million Americans with an estimated $16 billion less to spend over the next three years and comes just months after the expiration of a payroll tax cut knocked 2% off consumers' monthly paychecks.

On the business side of the equation, the cuts will fall particularly hard on the grocers, discounters, dollar stores and gas stations that depend heavily on low-income shoppers. Weak spending in that stressed consumer segment has already led retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp. to lower their sales forecasts for the rest of the year ahead of holidays….

benefits for a family of four receiving a maximum allotment will drop by 5.4%, the equivalent of about $36 a month, or $420 a year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The $16 billion, three-year toll of the cuts estimated by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities pales in comparison with the estimated $120 billion, one-year hit caused by the earlier expiration of the payroll tax cut. But for many retailers the two have a cumulative effect.

Wal-Mart estimates it rakes in about 18% of total U.S. outlays on food stamps. That would mean it pulled in $14 billion of the $80 billion the USDA says was appropriated for food stamps in the year ended in September 2012.

Read more by clicking on the following:  Retailers Brace for Reduction in Food Stamps - Yahoo Finance

Community Cupboard food Pantry Recieves $5,000 Grant

 

BELVIDERE (WIFR) -- The Community Cupboard food pantry recently received a $5,000 grant from the General Mills Foundation on behalf of the Belvidere, Illinois Community Action Council.

“With the holidays around the corner and students eating more meals at home, the timing of the grant is perfect,” said Shannon Hansen, Director. “The Community Cupboard is grateful for the support of the General Mills Foundation and will use the funds to continue providing food assistance and promoting healthy eating habits to Belvidere School District #100 students and their families.”

The Community Cupboard is the first school-based pantry in the state of Illinois and is housed in a classroom within the Belvidere School District. It is open every Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. including spring break, winter break, and the summer months.

Community Cupboard food Pantry Recieves $5,000 Grant

Belvidere Township tables decision on hosting mobile food pantry | Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

Helnore suggested the township give the sponsoring Boone County Homeless Project task force a check for $750, to bring the mobile food pantry to the county in August, and the task force will find a place for it to park….

Homeless task force Chairwoman Danice Loveridge, who came into the township meeting room moments after the vote to table, said she would contact the Salvation Army lieutenant to see if they would be able to host the food pantry again, in August.

The mobile pantry was there June 24, with food being distributed to 174 families.

Click on the following to read all of the story:  Belvidere Township tables decision on hosting mobile food pantry | Belvidere Daily Republican

Feed a neighbor, feed a friend | Belvidere Daily Republican

 

Poplar Grove United Methodist Church has agreed to have the first community meal from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8. They will continue to be held every Thursday at the same time.

Now the church is looking for other sponsors to have meals on other days each month.

One has already stepped forward.

St. John’s United Church of Christ in Belvidere, will have a meal one Wednesday a month, starting in late September. And Danice Loveridge, chairwoman of the homeless task force, said Capron United Methodist Church officials would work with Poplar Grove United Methodist on its community meal at first, with the possibility of having their own later.

Click on the following for more details;  Feed a neighbor, feed a friend | Belvidere Daily Republican

Many, Many items on Belvidere Township Agenda for Tuesday, July 23, 2013

AGENDA

BELVIDERE TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWNSHIP BOARD

8200 Fairgrounds Road

July 23, 2013 – 5:00 P.M.

I. Call to Order/Roll Call

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Public Input

IV. Discussion and potential action on approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

V. Discussion and potential action on Transfers

VI. Reports

a. Supervisor’s Report

b. Highway Commissioner’s Report

c. Assessor’s Report

d. Clerk’s Report

e. Trustee’s Report

VII. Unfinished Business – Discussion and Potential Action May Occur on the following items:

a.

VIII. Legal

a.

b.

IX. New Business

1. Beloit Road Bike
2. BCCA Parking
3. Mobile Food Truck
4. Shaw Road-M. Courier
5. Bike Rack for Building

X. Discussion and Potential Action on Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Bills

XI. Closed Session

XII. Adjournment

Next Meeting: August 13, 2013 @ 5:00 P.M.

Mobile Food Pantry helps feed Belvidere - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Actually the mobile food pantry was at Salvation Army on Main Street in June 2013 and feed a like number of people.  That was funded by the Belvidere/Boone County Food Bank (Capron)

The Mobile Food Pantry, hosted  by the Community Cupboard, delivered nutritious food to people in need.

The group helps many students families throughout the school year, but organizers say having a mobile pantry allows them to expand their services to others in need. Thursday was the first time the Mobile Food Pantry's been out in a couple years. And organizers say it was a success.

"It's a great opportunity to reach out to the entire community and to put more food on the tables of our students and their families during the summer months when the kids are home so there are more meals that are being made at home," said Shannon Hansen.

Roughly 200 people benefited from the Mobile Food Pantry.

Mobile Food Pantry helps feed Belvidere - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Churches contacted about regularly hosting community meals |

Belvidere Daily Republican

Written by Bob Balgemann

In Boone County the meals would be either monthly or weekly, depending on the capability of the host church. The meals would be open to anyone, with no requirements to satisfy….

As proposed right now there would be four locations to serve the northern Boone County area. Food would be provided by the Belvidere/Boone County Food Pantry in Capron.

Read on about the June Free Food Distribution---

Click on the following for more detail:  Churches contacted about regularly hosting community meals | Belvidere Daily Republican

Wanted: Affordable, big parking lot for food pantry in Capron - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

By Jennifer Wheeler

RRSTAR.COM

 

The organization will need to spend at least $43,000 for a paved lot large enough for 50 to 60 vehicles near the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Fifth Street.
Executive Director Linda Clark said the group doesn’t know whether it will receive grant money to pay for it, though. And she said there wouldn’t be enough spaces to handle the volume of cars on distribution days.

Capron officials have asked the nonprofit to create parking space to prevent motorists from illegally parking on the street. Hordes of cars line the roads each Tuesday, the pantry’s distribution day, making it difficult for emergency vehicles and residents to drive through the area.
Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/news/x853686395/Wanted-Affordable-big-parking-lot-for-food-pantry-in-Capron#ixzz2YfNvuDBh

Food Distribution Event

Mobile food pantry coming to Belvidere

The Community Cupboard will be hosting a mobile food pantry from 2 to 4 p.m. July 11 at 1320 East Ave. in Belvidere.

The organization will be providing enough produce, meat and nonperishable food to serve about 300 families living in the area. Residents do not have to pay for the food nor do they need to bring any identification with them. 

Food is distributed on a first come, first served basis. Individuals should bring boxes, laundry baskets or bags to carry the food.

Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/blogs/jenniferwheeler/x1629900708/Mobile-food-pantry-coming-to-Belvidere#ixzz2WZZ6GxNI

IDA Public Library is Summer Food Service Program site for Boone County

Food Pantry Fundraiser April 6, 2013 200PM to 600PM

Boone County Food Pantry has big spread in local magazine

The March issue of North Boone County Life, the monthly magazine by the publisher of Belvidere Daily Republican has a big spread on the Belvidere/Boone County Pantry.  The free magazine sent to postal customers in northern Boone County, free of cost.

Click on the photocopy to enlarge: