Many may be surprised to learn that it doesn't take much for a food desert to develop even in heavily populated areas of central Illinois.

That's according to Shelly Tolly with OSF Peace Meal. She explains the USDA defines a food desert based on poverty levels in a region. Roughly 82 percent of people living in an urban area would be considered living in a food desert.

According to Tolly, food deserts in central Illinois are closer than you think. US census data shows the west side of Bloomington is considered a food desert and it is because when it costs low-income households to get across town through public transportation or through other means, that impacts their access.

For Tolly and the Peace Meal program, they are working to expand the offerings they have to people in these areas. She points to developments they are working on in rural areas as well as more densely populated spots in central Illinois.

Earlier this month started an every Wednesday Peace Meal program that will bring grocery bingo to the Pontiac High Rise at 920 Madison Street in Pontiac. The meal will start at 11:00 and bingo will begin at 11:45 and will end around 1:00 pm. There will be grocery prizes for winning bingos.  

Peace Meal is working on reopening the Clinton and Weldon congregate sites.  Monticello and Rantoul’s congregate site is up and running, as well as many other sites throughout our seven-county region.  

If you would like to join Peace Meal by volunteering or working for them, call 309-665-5900 or 833-923-3905.