Purpose
Pursuant to 305 ILCS 44, the Secretary shall engage a not-for-profit entity from Illinois' emergency food system to administer the program. The administering entity shall have statewide reach and represent multiple food banks that source and distribute food to Illinois food pantries and soup kitchens under the same authorities and standards as the Emergency Food Assistance Program administered by the Department.
The Advisory Council shall provide support to the program through the following activities:
(1) facilitating relationship-building and partnerships between the Illinois agricultural sector and the emergency food system;
(2) approving of a proposed annual budget by the administering entity;
(3) reviewing and providing feedback on the administering entity's annual plans and annual reports;
(4) promoting the program; and
(5) providing feedback or recommendations as needed to the administering entity.
Farm to Food Bank Advisory Council Rules of Procedure
Meeting agenda and Approved Minutes (see in links)
| Meeting Date |
Approved Minutes |
| June 27, 2025 |
June 27, 2025 |
| July 24, 2025 |
July 24, 2025 |
| August 28, 2025 |
August 28, 2025 |
| October 16, 2025 |
|
| November 20, 2025 |
CANCELED |
| December 17, 2025 |
|
Membership
The Food to Farm Bank Advisory Council is comprised of the following 8 voting members:
| Statute Description |
Appointee |
| TEFAP Program Manager, who shall serve as the Chair |
Michelle Hansen |
| Director of Agriculture. Senior Policy Advisor. Representative from IL Department of Agriculture |
Dakarai Howard |
| Food bank representative from River Bend Food Bank. Director of Operations |
Gretchen Nollman |
| Representative from the agricultural industry. Midwest Region. American Farmland Trust. Midwest Communication Manager |
Piero Taico |
| Food bank representative from Eastern IL Foodbank. Donor Relations Manager |
Bailey Parks-Moore |
| Food bank representative from St. Louis Area Foodbank. Director of Product Sourcing and Repackaging |
Kevin Pinson |
| Representation from Agriculture. Representation from Illinois Farm Bureau, who shall serve as the Vice Chair |
Raghela Scavuzzo |
| Representative from an academic institution with expertise in agricultural systems. Representation from University of Illinois Extension |
Lillian Nabwiire |
IDHS Administrative Support:
Britney Southard - britney.southard@illinois.gov
