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.
Meetings
*Coming Soon*
Membership
The Food to Farm Bank Advisory Council is comprised of the following 9 voting members:
| Statute Description |
Appointee |
| Secretary of Human Services or the Secretary's designee, who shall serve as chair |
Bindi Desai Lessing |
| Director of Agriculture or designee |
Dakarai Howard |
| Representative from a food bank that participates in the Emergency Food Assistance Program administered by the Department of Human services, selected by the Department |
Hillary Caron |
| Representative from a food bank that participates in the Emergency Food Assistance Program administered by the Department of Human services, selected by the Department |
Jeremy S. Sampo |
| Representative from a food bank, selected by the Department |
Bailey Parks-Moore |
| Representative from the agricultural industry, selected by the Department |
Nick Davis |
| Representative from the agricultural industry, selected by the Department |
Piero Taico |
| Representative from the agricultural industry, selected by the Department |
Raghela Scavuzzo |
| Representative from an academic institution with expertise in agricultural systems, selected by the Department |
Lillian Nabwiire |
IDHS Administrative Support
Britney Southard - britney.southard@illinois.gov
