Food banks are gearing up for the holiday season. The Eastern Illinois Food Bank talks about new programs and serving the most vulnerable communities.

Food banks are gearing up for the holiday season. The Eastern Illinois Food Bank talks about new programs and serving the most vulnerable communities.

A new report from the nonprofit Feeding America found that food insecurity in east-central Illinois is higher than in most parts of the state.

People who rely on SNAP benefits to pay for food will continue to receive that assistance through at least February, even if the partial federal government shutdown continues. But because of the shutdown, next month’s payment will come a couple weeks earlier than usual—on January 20th.

On the 21st: One in 5 children in Illinois are from families who worry about where they’ll get their next meal. What’s being done to get healthy meals to kids in Illinois this summer? Also, we revisit our conversation with former poet laureate Natasha Trethewey about how poetry can help Americans better understand each other.