Much of Peoria's South Side is in a federally recognized food desert.
While a grocery store may not become a reality any time soon, the University of Illinois extension is bringing free cooking classes to South Peoria adults and children.
The classes meet at House of Hope, a nonprofit located at 514 S. Shelley St.
Adult classes are 10 a.m. to noon Fridays. Children meet after school every other Friday. The next children's class is Friday, October 29.
Class instructor JoElyn Smith says the extension wants to empower families to make healthier meals.
"We want to promote healthy eating and physical activity," she said. "And by doing that, we try to make it fun."
While adult classes are well-attended, participation in the after-school program for is lagging.
Smith hopes that changes.
"I just can't imagine how many times I've seen kids hungry after school," she said. "This is a good way to feed your kids. So after school, come on down to the House of Hope."
In addition to cooking classes, neighbors are welcome to shop House of Hope's free food pantry.
House of Hope director Terry Burnside hopes his neighbors take advantage of this opportunity.
"You think about a lot of the stuff that's going around, it's a lot of hopelessness around you," he said. "We got the food pantry ... the food training class, because we're right here in the heart of a food desert."
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