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Jacksonville Area Food Center asks council for recurring line item amid rising demand and falling external support
Summary
Representatives of the Jacksonville Area Food Center told the council they face rising demand, higher food costs and reduced USDA support; they asked the council to consider a permanent annual stipend (they proposed $90,000) and provided recent treasurer numbers showing increased expenditures year to date.
Representatives of the Jacksonville Area Food Center addressed the Jacksonville City Council during public comment to request a recurring municipal line item to help cover increasing food‑bank costs.
A speaker identified as Linda (Jacksonville Area Food Center) thanked the council for a $10,000 contribution in November and said demand and food prices have continued to rise. She provided a treasurer’s report for April showing year‑to‑date figures and said the food center last month purchased roughly $16,000 in food while bringing in about $8,700 in donations for that month. She said the group serves clients Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and that about 12–14 people per day receive lunches at no cost; in one two‑hour period the center distributed 50 boxes.
Linda said the center receives donated items from local stores and support from Illinois or Central Illinois Food Bank but that donated commodities do not always match community needs. She said one recent large source of donated food may be reduced because of changes in USDA funding and that the Salvation Army captain’s departure in June could shift additional demand to the food center.
In her request the food center’s representative asked the council to consider a permanent annual stipend; she said a prior ask had been for $100,000 and she proposed $90,000 in light of the city’s earlier $10,000 grant in November. She said the organization already uses local retailers (Aldi, Hy‑Vee, Walmart) for purchased food items so local dollars directly support local vendors.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the treasurer’s report and donation totals; Linda noted one spreadsheet had a typographical error in a top-line total and corrected it during the meeting. Members discussed grant activity and fundraising; Linda said there are limited active grant applications at present and that some grants only become available later in the year.
No council action was taken during public comment. Several councilors encouraged the food center to supply clearer budgeted actuals and fundraising plans for formal appropriation consideration during the budget process.
