Health and Wellness Foundation of Pike County Awards $3,500 to Pleasant Hill summer food program

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Health and Wellness Foundation of Pike County announced that they have awarded a $3,500 grant to the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church for their summer food program.  The annual program serves a hot lunch free of charge and a take-home sack lunch to any Pike County youth ages 0-18 years on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week. HWFPC funds are granted for the purchase of food and supplies that ultimately benefit the many families and individuals that utilize their food pantries. In 2024 the program served over 4000 meals, and this year the program anticipates serving 5000 meals.

In a press release,, Becky Brannan, summer food program coordinator, said, “The summer food program wouldn’t be able to survive without the generous support of the Health and Wellness Foundation. We greatly appreciate the donation that we receive every year.”

HWFPC’s executive director Patricia McIntosh related, “The foundation recognizes how vital this program is to so many Pike County families.  Since 2022 the number of hot meals they have served has almost doubled, a testament to the expanding need being addressed. Children who receive free and reduced lunches during the school year lose that safety net in the summer months which leaves them vulnerable to hunger and food insecurity.” 

Many families in Pike County have been statistically deemed as food insecure. Food insecurity in families means they are often unable to afford nutritious foods in sufficient quantity for all family members. In children, food insecurity manifests through lack the resources needed to enable dependable access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle. 

“We remain focused on improving positive health outcomes in Pike County, which includes helping to ensure that children have access to ample nutritional meals such as provided through the Pleasant Hill Summer Food Program” said McIntosh.

Many noted organizations have studied the impact of food insecurity on families across the country.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) identifies four general levels of food security from high to very low. Children in households with very low food security may have to skip meals or go a whole day without eating due to limited money or resources. Conversely, everyone in a food secure household has consistent access to healthy meals, and no one worries about affording groceries or running out of food. 

A study in the journal Pediatrics reported that, relative to their food-secure peers, children in food-insecure homes are more likely to have: poor overall health, reduced immune system functioning, more communicable diseases, asthma and higher rates of emergency room visits, among others. 

Rural areas comprise less than two-thirds of all U.S. counties, but nine out of ten counties with the highest food insecurity rate are rural, according to Feeding America® the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Among the many reasons why hunger is more common in rural areas are: lack of transportation-people in rural areas often live far away from grocery stores and food pantries which can make it difficult to get food especially without a car or public transit- and low wages and underemployment. 

Since its inception over 20 years ago, the Health and Wellness Foundation of Pike County has made over $2 million in grant awards to Pike County initiatives that impact Pike County’s most pressing physical, emotional and social health needs. HWFPC is recognized as a 501(c)(3) public charity, solely serving the health and wellness needs of Pike County, Illinois. Donations to the foundation are fully tax deductible as allowable by law. 

For more information about their other grant programs, health scholarships, community collaborations or how to make a donation, visit the foundation’s web site at www.hwfpc.org or call the foundation office at 217-285-6080.