Latest news with #JulieBonar
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal budget bill threatens food assistance for millions
(WTVO) — Millions of Americans could lose their food assistance program benefits if Congress signs the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' into law. The proposed federal budget bill would slash $300 billion in funding for SNAP benefits. A food pantry CEO in Peoria said seniors and people with disabilities would be hurt most by the cuts. 'We see an increase in demand in people that we have maybe never seen before, who are not the regulars,' said the CEO of Neighborhood House, Julie Bonar. 'Oftentimes, we'll see individuals who have never been to a food pantry before because it is not something they've had to utilize. But with losing those benefits, they still have to feed themselves or their families.' The bill would raise the age requirement for SNAP from 54 to 64 for people with children who can work and shift the direct cost of food benefits to the states. The bill would also change child tax credits, make Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent and let Americans ages 65 and older with certain income limits receive extra deductions on their taxes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local food pantries brace for SNAP benefit cuts
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Millions of Americans may soon lose food assistance program benefits as the reconciliation bill moves through Congress, while local food pantries are already seeing a lot of new faces. The reconciliation bill proposed $300 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to low-income families. 'When there are things on the chopping block and funds are getting cut, we see an increase in demand in people that we have never seen before or are not the regulars,' said Julie Bonar, president and CEO of Neighborhood House in Peoria. Bonar said the demand at their bimonthly food pantry has doubled in recent weeks. She said seniors and people with disabilities will be hurt most by the cuts. 'Oftentimes, we'll see individuals who have never been to a food pantry before because it really is not something they've had to utilize. But with losing those benefits, they still have to feed themselves or their families,' she said. 'The first time someone ever comes to a food pantry, it often can be very overwhelming because they're not used to having to come and ask for assistance.' Nearly one in four people in Peoria County (23% of the population) depend on SNAP benefits. That's higher than the state average of 16%, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services. The reconciliation bill increases the SNAP work requirement age from 54 to 64 for able-bodied people with kids. It also shifts the direct cost of food benefits to the states. That means Illinois will have to pick up the tab for everyone who remains in the program. 'I think that there's a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unknown and a lot of fear. And that is, I think, how all of us are feeling right now with all of the different changes that are happening so rapid fire and changing constantly,' said Bonar. Neighborhood House relies on Midwest Food Bank and private donations to stock its pantry shelves. If you'd like to help, click here. The pantry is the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month from 10 a.m. to noon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
WMBD news anchors pack meals for homebound seniors
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Three WMBD anchors and other community leaders spent Wednesday morning giving back to the community by boxing up meals for homebound seniors. The goal of Community of Champions Week at Neighborhood House in Peoria is to raise awareness about the importance of senior nutrition through Meals on Wheels. 'Oftentimes we hear that are our senior neighbors, due to just age, frailty, different conditions, it may make preparing a meal difficult, but they want to be able to stay in their home. If they weren't provided with that meal, they could end up malnourished, dehydrated and in the hospital,' explained Julie Bonar, president and CEO of Neighborhood House. Every day, Bonar said Neighborhood House delivers between 800 and 900 meals across Peoria County and Tazewell County. Each meal includes three ounces of protein, a cup of vegetables, half cup of fruit, a roll and milk. 'Oftentimes when individuals come to our program, it can be after a hospitalization due to malnutrition or dehydration. And so we're providing one-third of their daily caloric needs through the hot meal that is delivered. And then if they qualify, some of our clients also receive a frozen meal that they can have later in the day,' she said. And while food is important, the deliveries also provide something less tangible: human companionship and comfort. 'We always say that it's more than just the meal and it's that daily interaction. It's the same driver delivering each day. So they get to know the people that they're delivering to and the people that are getting the meal look forward to that daily visit from their driver. Oftentimes it's the only person that they see,' said Bonar. According to the National Institutes of Health, about one in four Americans aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated, and 43% of adults aged 60 and older report feeling lonely. 'Being socially isolated, being lonely is as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. So we really like to shed light on that, that it really truly is more than just a meal that we're delivering,' said Bonar. Neighborhood House also offers 'Critters Meals on Wheels' for seniors with companion animals. The program started 20 years ago after they found out clients were sharing meals with their pets. 'We know how important that companionship of a pet is for our seniors. There are many medical benefits to that, including lower blood pressure, less stress, and it also requires the senior to get up and care for something else. So is keeping them active,' said Bonar. Neighborhood House proudly doesn't have a waitlist for Meals on Wheels. However, they are in need of more volunteers. 'We need people who can come in and who can help take packs of hamburger buns, hot dog buns, tortillas and put them into single serving packages. We have fruit that needs to be portioned into individual, single-serving-size cups. So there's lots of opportunities for people to volunteer that way,' said Bonar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
