By Kay Shipman-Swiech
Key points
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Education funding will be eliminated starting FY 2026 (Oct. 1, 2025) in the budget signed by President Donald Trump. SNAP Education provides low-income families with nutrition education that helps prevent chronic disease and stretches scarce food dollars.
• Across McLean County, eight partnerships in K-12 schools, five partnerships at emergency food sites, and three partnerships in early childhood centers will disappear without SNAP-Ed funding.
• In McLean County, about 1,180 individuals participated in 293 SNAP nutrition education classes in 2024.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Education helps McLean County individuals learn how to get the most nutrition and value from their scarce food dollars. SNAP-Ed funding is poised for elimination in the budget reconciliation package signed on July 4 by President Donald Trump.
SNAP-Ed is a federally funded nutrition education and obesity prevention program that serves low-income families and individuals from young children to older people, according to Katie Buckley, University of Illinois Extension county director serving McLean, Livingston, and Woodford counties.“Funding elimination will have far reaching consequences for families and communities across McLean County as well as Livingston and Woodford counties. We will no longer be able to provide essential nutrition education that helps families stretch their food dollars, prevent chronic disease, and build healthier communities,” Buckley said.
Across the tri-county area, SNAP-Ed funding supported:
• 15 partnerships with K-12 schools, including 8 in McLean County;
• 6 partnerships with emergency food sites, including 5 in McLean County;
• 6 partnerships with early childhood centers, including 3 in McLean County;
• 554 nutrition education classes, including 293 in McLean County; and
• 4 dedicated staff members who provide programs.
Buckley explained McLean County residents won’t be able to access research-based nutrition education that helps them make informed, healthy food choices. SNAP-Ed services are offered at schools, food pantries, and early childhood centers and through community groups.
McLean County and others across Illinois will lose economic investments. For each dollar spent on Illinois SNAP-Ed, up to $9.54 is returned in future benefits, including reduced healthcare costs.