By Andi Anderson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and Cooperative Extension honored exceptional leadership and diversity in educational programming during the recent APLU Annual Meeting. Among the recognitions was the National Excellence in Extension Team Award, celebrating the remarkable efforts of collaborative initiatives like the Growing Together Multi-State Collaboration.
Part of this distinguished team, the University of Illinois Extension's Growing Together Illinois program, stands out for its impactful contributions to nutrition access and education. Led by the Illinois SNAP-Ed leadership team, the program was acknowledged for its exceptional efforts in expanding fresh produce availability at food distribution sites across the North Central United States.
The collaborative initiative has significantly impacted communities, donating over 600,000 pounds of fresh produce, equivalent to 1.8 million servings of fruits and vegetables, to numerous food distribution sites. Through a multi-disciplinary approach, the program aims to combat nutrition insecurity by providing vital education and access to fresh produce, benefiting over 375,000 clients across 878 distribution sites in the past three years.
The Growing Together Illinois program, initiated in 2017, operates within identified Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education networks. Partnering with Extension's Illinois Master Gardener and Illinois 4-H youth programs, the initiative focuses on increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables for food-insecure families.
By leveraging the expertise of volunteers, Master Gardeners, and 4-H Clubs in community gardens, the program cultivates produce to support food pantries. This effort not only addresses the nutritional needs of individuals and families but also provides valuable education on nutrition, recipes, and the utilization of fresh produce.
Trinity Allison, SNAP-Ed senior program lead, emphasizes the program's comprehensive approach to not only provide fresh produce to food pantries but also educate and support individuals in making healthy food choices.
The USDA recognition highlights the significance of collaborative efforts and innovative programs like Growing Together Illinois in combating food insecurity and promoting nutritional education across multiple states.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy