The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s [SNAP] education program, SNAP-Ed, will come to an end in Illinois, according to the University of Illinois Extension.
The organization serving Livingston, McLean and Woodford counties said the program lost all of its funding in President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill signed earlier this month.
Katie Buckley is county director at Extension.
“SNAP-Ed is a federally-funded nutrition education and obesity prevention program that serves low-income populations,” Buckley said at Thursday's McLean County Board meeting. “Currently, Illinois receives $19 million annually for SNAP-Ed. Of that, Livingston and McLean counties receive approximately $350,000 each year.”
Buckley said the money for SNAP-Ed supports programs in schools, community centers and partner organizations.
“These programs help participants stretch their food dollars further, improve diet quality and physical activity, manage chronic conditions through nutrition and increase access to healthy food and active living opportunities,” she said.
“In 2024, our local impact in McLean County included eight partnerships at K-12 schools, three early childhood partnerships, five emergency food site collaborations, 13 partnerships with other community organizations, 293 nutrition education classes and 1,178 participants reached,” Buckley said.
Buckley said Extension is actively exploring alternative funding opportunities to continue providing the services of SNAP-Ed in McLean County.
