Farm to Food Bank Advisory Council Meeting
10:00 a.m.
August 28th, 2025
Springfield Location: Videoconference Room, 823 E. Monroe Street Springfield, IL 62701
Welcome
Bindi Lessing brought the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. Roll call was taken; there was not enough members present at this time to have a quorum.
Roll Call
Members Present Virtually:
- Bindi Lessing, Chair, Illinois Department of Human Services, TEFAP
- Bailey Parks-Moore, Food Bank Representative, Eastern Illinois Food Bank
- Piero Taico, Agriculture Industry Representative, Feeding Illinois
- Lillian Nabwiire, Academic Institution Representative
- Dakarai Howard, Director of Agriculture, Illinois Department of Agriculture
Members Absent:
- Gretchen Nollman, Food Sourcing Manager, River Bend Food Bank
- Kevin Pinson, Director of Product Sourcing, St. Louis Area Food Bank
- Raghela Scavuzzo, Agricultural Industry Representative, Illinois Farm Bureau
Attendees Virtually:
- Michelle Hansen, Program Manager, Illinois Department of Human Services, TEFAP
Additional Attendees:
- Britney Southard, Liaison, Illinois Department of Human Services, TEFAP
- Steve Ericson, Executive Director, Feeding Illinois
- Hibtes Hibtes, TEFAP
Minutes
- Approval of minutes (at 10:30am, a member joined virtually, a quorum was established)
- Lillian Nabwiire moved to approve minutes
- Piero Taico seconded the motion
- The motion to approve minutes by roll call vote
Meeting Opener
Bindi Lessing opened the meeting with an introduction of TEFAP's new Program Manager Michelle Hansen, for the council to meet.
Member Roll
Steve Ericson discussed planning on moving forward with capacity grants once Farm to Food Bank receives a contract. Ericson walked through the Infrastructure Grant Application and process. Discussed highlighted areas from the application to get member input. Having an identified limit on the amount of the grant and ideally, spreading the grant as far as it can go. Discussion of eligibility requirements and eligible applicants. Who should be listed who shouldn't and if there are any to add.
Committee Reports
The council targeted on the application process, requirements, and eligible applications.
There are no identified concerns at this time.
Public Participation
No public participants.
Upcoming Meeting Date
Lessing confirmed the next meeting date will be notified via email due to some changes in the council.
Adjourn
- Lessing ended the meeting
- Lessing motioned to adjourn
- Bailey Parks-Moore second to adjourn
- Meeting adjournment ended with roll call vote
