Annual Food Summit to Address Champaign County Food Insecurity

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Community leaders from across Champaign County will gather later this month for the fourth annual Feeding Champaign County Food Summit to discuss strategies to combat food insecurity. The event, hosted by Healthy Champaign County, will bring together representatives from government agencies, social service organizations, schools, faith communities, health care providers, food assistance programs, farmers, food producers, and retailers to examine how organizations can work together to improve access to affordable, nutritious food for county residents.

Why it matters

Food insecurity remains a persistent challenge locally and nationwide, with more than 25,000 residents in Champaign County regularly experiencing it. Nearly 20% of those affected are children. The summit aims to address this issue and explore potential programs and action steps to improve food access in the region.

The details

The summit will feature workshops focused on action steps and potential programs, as well as a resource fair allowing participating organizations to share information and explore collaboration opportunities. This year's keynote speaker is Julie Pryde, former administrator of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, who will reflect on her public health service and its broader impact.

• The fourth annual Feeding Champaign County Food Summit will take place on March 26, 2026.
• The summit is an annual event hosted by Healthy Champaign County.

What’s next

The summit will feature workshops focused on action steps and potential programs to address food insecurity in Champaign County.