A University of Illinois Extension employee’s work to fight food insecurity in her community has earned her the Extension’s Excellence in Diversity Award.
U of I Extension reports community outreach worker Sarita Sawyer has been instrumental in recruiting diverse volunteers for the Cairo Pilot Food Donation Garden.
Last year, the group produced more than 700 pounds of food that was harvested by volunteers and delivered to Day Star Emergency Food Pantry to be distributed into the community.
In addition to her work in the garden, Sawyer leads nutrition classes for SNAP-Ed eligible audiences. Some of those topics include buying food on a budget and smart shopping for fruit and vegetables.
The goal is to help eligible families make positive changes in their health and provide them with resources to access local agencies for assistance in their communities.
