Now that you’ve seen the impact of the work already happening across our region, we invite you to help bring the next generation of projects to life. These initiatives have the potential to strengthen local agriculture, expand food access, create economic opportunities for farmers, and build a more resilient regional food system.
The vision is ready. The partnerships are forming. What we need now is the funding to turn these projects into reality for the communities we serve.
Helena Farm Market: Two weeks ago, the Helena Chicken Processing Plant in Sumner, Illinois was destroyed by fire. This USDA inspected facility was entering its third year of operation and was just reaching full sustainability after years of building systems, training, and growth.
Helena is a critical piece of food infrastructure for Southern and Central Illinois, helping small and mid sized farmers process poultry and livestock so they can sell across state lines and supply institutional buyers like hospitals, universities, and restaurants.
Mobile Chicken Process Unit: The Mobile Chicken Processing Unit (MCPU) is a regional agricultural infrastructure project designed to support small and mid-sized poultry farmers across the Greater Wabash region. The project will consist of a fully equipped mobile processing trailer capable of traveling directly to farms and processing poultry onsite, helping address one of the largest barriers local producers face: access to affordable and scalable poultry processing services.
Bringing fresh food directly to the neighborhoods that need it most.
We are raising funds for a Mobile Market Bus, a traveling fresh food market that delivers fruits, vegetables, and healthy staples into small and rural communities that cannot sustain a traditional farmers market.
This mobile market removes transportation barriers, expands access to locally grown foods, and creates new income opportunities for regional farmers. It makes food access visible, consistent, and convenient, meeting people where they are instead of requiring long travel for essentials.
Your support helps us put fresh food on wheels and bring healthier choices within reach for every community we serve.
Refrigerated Delivery Truck: Help us bring fresh, local food to more students—safely and affordably. We are raising funds for a refrigerated delivery truck that will keep food at peak quality and nutritional value while it travels from local farms to school cafeterias. This investment will also reduce delivery costs for schools, allowing more resources to go directly toward feeding students.
Your support strengthens Farm2School programs in your community by connecting local farmers to classrooms and ensuring students have access to fresh, healthy food every day.
