Earthrise Energy Awards $25,000 Grant to CRIS Healthy Aging to Support Food Security Initiatives for Older Adults

 

Funding Will Help Expand Access to Nutrition Resources and Improve Food Security for Low-Income and Rural Seniors 

 

Champaign, IL – Earthrise Energy has awarded a $25,000 grant to CRIS Healthy Aging, an affiliate of Carle Health, to support efforts aimed at increasing food security for older adults living on fixed incomes in rural and low-income communities. The funding will help CRIS, located in Champaign and Vermilion counties, enhance its food access services, provide direct support for clients, and strengthen internal data systems to better identify and address food insecurity among seniors. 

“Older adults living on fixed incomes often struggle to afford nutritious food, especially as prices continue to rise,” said Lisa Miller, Executive Director of CRIS Healthy Aging. “This grant from Earthrise Energy will help us strengthen the support we provide, connect more seniors to the resources they need, and ultimately help more older adults stay healthy and independent in their homes.”  

The funding will help CRIS expand a range of food access services for older adults, including assistance with SNAP applications, referrals for home-delivered and congregate meals, distribution of farmers market coupons through the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP), and promotion of the Garden Share program, which provides fresh, locally grown produce at no cost to clients. Additionally, the grant will support important upgrades to CRIS’s internal data management system, allowing the organization to track service usage more effectively, document gaps in food security, and secure additional resources to address those needs in the future. 

“Food security is essential to maintaining health, independence, and dignity, particularly among older adults,” said Ellie Ginis, Development Manager at Earthrise Energy. “CRIS Healthy Aging’s commitment to connecting seniors with reliable nutrition resources is critical to the well-being of the community, and we’re proud to support their efforts to meet this growing need.” 

Earthrise Energy’s RISE Grant program supports initiatives that strengthen communities through investments in education, mental health, and community development. Through this program, Earthrise has awarded nearly $2 million in grants to organizations across Illinois. Earthrise Energy’s grant program is fully funded through the company’s own profits as a Public Benefit LLC, reflecting the commitment to reinvesting in the communities it serves. 

Earthrise Energy, an independent power producer, owns and operates 1.7 gigawatts of natural gas generation capacity and is developing 1.5 gigawatts of solar projects in the Midwest, including the two Gibson City projects which are now in construction. 

 

For more information about CRIS Healthy Aging and its programs, visit: www.crishealthyaging.org