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More than 300 hot meals available in East Bluff, North Valley today

The East Bluff Community Center building at 512 E. Kansas could be in line for improvements if their bid for a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant is successful.
Tim Shelley
/
WCBU
The East Bluff Community Center building at 512 E. Kansas could be in line for improvements if their bid for a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant is successful.

Residents of North Valley and East Bluff will have three opportunities to receive free food today.

In partnership with Meridian Health, Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth (D-Peoria) will hand out more than 300 hot meals at three community centers:

  • 3:30 p.m. at the East Bluff Community Center, 512 E. Kansas St.
  • 4 p.m. at Neighborhood House, 1020 S. Matthew St.
  • 4:30 p.m. at Art Inc., 919 NE Jefferson St.

Meals will include smoked tenderloin, chicken Kiev, chicken cordon bleu, chicken Parmesan and spaghetti and meatballs.
In a text message, Gordon Booth said too many Peorians live in a "food desert." The USDA defines an urban food desert as when residents live more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.

“The goal today is to show the community love through a home cooked meal because it’s been a tough time," Gordon Booth said. "This is not a big deal, but sometimes in life ... it’s the little things."

Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth (D-Peoria) poses for a portrait.
Tracey Frugoli
Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth (D-Peoria) poses for a portrait.

Hannah Alani is a reporter at WCBU. She joined the newsroom in 2021. She can be reached at hmalani@ilstu.edu.