Donating to charity in Illinois is a great way to help others and receive a tax deduction at the same time. A group of eight major food banks, each helping to fight hunger in their own part of the state, accept food donations in Illinois. 50% of those served are either children or senior citizens. These food banks are all non-profits organizations that work from donations. Donations of food, money, and volunteers are always needed. Below is the list of the eight food banks, along with the details of some of the programs they offer.
Central Illinois Food Bank
This food bank serves the following 21 counties in Illinois: Adams, Bond, Brown, Cass, Christian, Effingham, Fayette, Greene, Jefferson, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Marion, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, and Shelby.
Central Illinois Food Bank offers a Kids Café program, Retail Store Donation Program, Food Rescue Program, and a Plant-A-Row program. The Central Illinois Food bank accepts donations and volunteers year round.
- Website: Centralilfoodbank.org
- Address: 2000 East Moffat, Springfield, Illinois 62702
Eastern Illinois Food Bank
This food bank serves the following 14 counties in Illinois: Champaign, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Jasper, Moultrie, Piatt, and Vermilion.
The Eastern Illinois Food Bank offers mobile food pantries, as well as a backpack program. They also conduct a yearly fundraiser called Prom. The Prom is for adults 21 and up. All proceeds from this fundraiser are donated to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank.
- Website: Eifoodbank.org
- Address: 2405 N Shore Drive, Urbana, Illinois 61802
Northern Illinois Food Bank
This food bank serves the following 13 counties in Illinois: Boone, Dekalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will, and Winnebago.
The Northern Illinois Food Bank offers a food recovery program, emergency food program, youth nutrition program, a mobile pantry, and holiday meal boxes. All donations and volunteer efforts are welcome at the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
- Website: Northernilfoodbank.org
- Address: 600 Industrial Drive, St. Charles, Illinois 60174
The Greater Chicago Food Depository
This food bank serves Cook County, the largest county in Illinois. It offers a mobile pantry, produce mobile pantry, and a children’s nutrition program. They also offer Chicago Community Kitchens (CCK), which is a free teaching program for those who want to learn how to cook for entry-level positions in the food industry. CCK students make a good portion of the meals for Chicago’s Kid Cafes (the children’s nutrition program).
- Website: Chicagosfoodbank.com
- Address: 4100 West Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, Illinois 60632
The St. Louis Food Bank
This food bank serves the following 13 Illinois counties, in addition to 14 others in Missouri: Calhoun, Clinton, Franklin, Jackson, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington, and Williamson.
The St. Louis Food Bank offers a mobile pantry program and monthly food fair events in each county. Most of their food distribution is done through over 500 partner agencies. They also offer a transitional housing program, which donates a month's supply of food to families moving from shelters to their own homes or apartments.
- Website: Stlfoodbank.org
- Address: 70 corporate Woods Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63044
Tri-State Food Bank
This food bank serves the following 16 Illinois counties, in addition to 9 Indiana counties, and 8 counties in Kentucky: Alexander, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Lawrence, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Richland, Saline, Union, Wabash, Wayne, and White.
The Tri-State Food Bank offers the Kids Café program, senior citizens program, and an on-site feeding program for daycares, treatment homes, and summer camps. They also have a Donate a Deer program that allows hunter to take deer to certain processing plants for donation to food banks.
- Website: Tristatefoodbank.org
- Address: 801 E. Michigan St., Evansville, Indiana 47711
The Peoria Area Food Bank
This food bank serves the following 8 Illinois counties: DeWitt, Fulton, Livingston, Mason, McLean, Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodward.
The Peoria Area Food Bank distributes food to 112 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, senior housing area, and day cares.
- Website: Pecceo.org/foodbank.htm
- Address: 721 W. McBean St., Peoria Illinois 61605
River Bend Food Bank
This food bank served the following 18 Illinois counties, in addition to 4 Iowa counties: Bureau, Carroll, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jo Davies, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, McDonough, Mercer, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Warren, and Whiteside.
In addition to regular food distribution services, the River Bend Food Bank has a Kids Café and a Backpack Program.
- Website: Riverbendfoodbank.org
- Address: 309 12th Street, Moline, Illinois 61265
Additional Information on Donating to Charity at Illinois Food Banks
In order to receive a tax deduction on the donation, be sure to keep the original food receipt, and obtain a receipt for the donation from the food bank. When donating money, use a check or money order as a receipt for the donation. Making a tax deduction donation at one of Illinois’ food banks is a wonderful way to help the community!
More Information on Personal Income Taxes:
Filing Your Income Taxes: How to Complete IRS Form 1040A
Sources:
Feeding Illinois: How to Help (accessed 3/7/2010)
Cheri Pearson - Cheri Pearson is a seasoned freelance journalist who holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of ...
