DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski visited the Northeast Community Fund to help pack Thanksgiving meal boxes on Tuesday. These boxes will be handed out to elderly individuals or those with disabilities in the Decatur area. 

This year, they planned to hand out 300 boxes, but they've already met that goal. Joshua Perkins, the Food Distribution Director at Northeast Community Fund, said this isn't the only area where needs have been higher than usual. 

"Our mobile pantry has probably nearly doubled in the last year and a half in size," said Perkins. "A couple of years ago, we were seeing 100 people in a day, and now we're up to around 150 to 175 people that we are seeing come through every day." 

Congresswoman Budzinski says these trends are an indicator of a bigger trend in central Illinois. According to Northeast Community Fund, around 1 in 10 people in Decatur are struggling with food insecurity. 

"There is a great need in communities throughout central and southern Illinois to make sure our kids don't go hungry and have access to healthy food sources," said Budzinski. "This is really foundational and fundamental to making sure sure that we have a healthy community." 

Budzinski says federal funding is crucial to ensure organizations like Northeast Community Fund can stay open and continue providing nutritional services.

"That's one of the most important things about the farm bill, 80% of it goes to helping fund nutrition programs that help support work like the Northeast Community Fund." 

The Congresswoman said tackling food insecurity is a priority for her within the House Agriculture Committee. 

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