Hungry for Change
Welcome to the official newsletter of the Food Security Network, where we’re stirring the pot (politely, most days) on food systems change, justice, and collaboration… without making you feel guilty about your snack choices. We’re the coalition that believes food justice is everyone’s business — and that systemic change pairs best with humor, curiosity, and a dash of collective action.
We followed the food system… and ended up at the bus stop!
January 7, 2026
Welcome back to our ongoing series answering the age-old question:“Okay but… what does a coalition actually do?”
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Today, I want to answer that question specifically around what the Food Security Network (FSN) coalition does. Last time, we talked about collaborative purchasing of local products. This time, I want to zoom out—and get very specific—because food access doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
It exists on bus routes, sidewalks, driveways, and sometimes… not at all.
The Big Question We Are Asking
What happens when you technically have food nearby—but no reliable way to get it? We know that this is a huge piece of food insecurity. Read More
What Does a Coalition Actually Do? Part 1
December 18, 2025
Welcome to the first email in our new series: “What Does a Food Justice Coalition Actually Do?” (Short answer: a lot. Slightly chaotic. Very collaborative.)
Today’s topic: Collaborative Local Purchasing
Wait—don’t leave!
We promise it’s more exciting than it sounds. (Well… coalition-exciting.)
🥕 So what is collaborative produce purchasing?
Think of it like a group chat—but instead of memes, everyone’s comparing prices on eggs.
5 food pantries across our region are working together to buy fresh, local products in a coordinated, predictable, cost-efficient way. Read More
🌽From Cornfields to Kale: An Accidental Journey
November 18, 2025
I grew up in central Illinois in a very small farm town—trust me, you haven’t heard of it. It is the kind of place where the local gossip spreads faster than Wi-Fi (which we didn’t have until, like, 2014). We were surrounded by endless fields of corn and soybeans, yet somehow, finding a fresh vegetable that wasn’t canned or frozen was harder than finding a sports bar.
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It was a strange irony: we literally grew food, but couldn’t get food. As a kid, I remember looking out at acres of corn and thinking, “Wow, I bet that’s going to feed so many people!”—only to learn later that most of it was destined to become cow snacks or high-fructose corn syrup. Meanwhile, we were making casseroles out of whatever was on sale that week at the one grocery store in town (which doubled as the post office). Read More
Past Topics
- We Are NOT Just Another Nonprofit About Food Access (Seriously, We Promise) November 7, 2025
