Metro East Sun

Illinois State Rep. Amy Elik (R-Fosterburg) wants Illinoisans to be aware of growing concerns over the rising number of people, children included, who live in the Prairie State who lack reliable access to a sufficient amount of food. 

Elik, who was first elected to The Illinois House in 2020, serves on a number of committees including the Transportation: Regulation, Roads and Appropriations-Human Services committees, according to the House website. 

"1 in 12 Illinoisans and 1 in 9 of the state's children are considered food insecure," Elik wrote in an October 7 Facebook post. "If you are able, please consider donating to local food pantries to help fight hunger in your area."

In her Facebook post, Elik shared a link to an article from the Belleville News Democrat. The article laid out who qualifies for SNAP benefits based on income, but notes that the process is complex and the published guidelines may not be the best way to figure out if you qualify for the assistance. 

According to Feeding America, in Illinois "38.3% of households receiving SNAP benefits have children." The organization also noted that the more than $2.6 billion distributed through SNAP generated about $4.9 billion in economic spending since economists estimate every dollar redeemed through SNAP leads to $1.70 in economic activity.

SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, funds are distributed on The Illinois Link Card. According to the Illinois Department of Human Services, the state agency tasked with administering the program, how much a household receives is dependent on the number of people in the "SNAP unit" and the monthly income available to meet needs after deductions such as rent and utilities are subtracted from the gross income.