Eight food banks serving Illinois are getting an upgrade using state funds.
Nearly $4.5 million will go to regional food banks so they can upgrade their computer systems and cut down on paper record keeping. Gov. Pat Quinn says the benefits of this investment will trickle down to the thousands of food pantries in the state.
“You can go to any part of our state, and there are going to be food pantries,” Quinn said. “It’s important that we make sure that our food pantries and our food banks that supply those pantries are 21st century ready.”
Several food pantries around Chicago tested out the new system, and determined it would lower their costs and help them provide better service.
Springfield’s Central Illinois Foodbank is also getting some grant money, but it wasn’t immediately clear how much.
Other foodbanks getting money are in Chicago, Urbana, Geneva, Peoria, and Moline, as well as two food banks in Indiana and Missouri that serve parts of Illinois.