Health & Safety Committee: Monee Church Kitchen Project Highlighted in County Health Impact Report

Public Health & Safety Committee Meeting | February 5, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County MAPP Collaborative presented its impact report, highlighting ARPA-funded community kitchen projects in Monee and Joliet designed to improve food access and nutrition education.

MAPP Collaborative Key Points:

• Monee Project: New Hope Christian Church in Monee has established a commercial-grade community kitchen used for Meals on Wheels expansion and youth culinary classes.

• Joliet Project: Riverwalk Homes in Joliet is finalizing infrastructure for a kitchen to support seniors and pantry clients.

• Investment: Over $714,000 in ARPA funds has been invested in four partners to enhance food access.

JOLIET, IL – A community kitchen project in Monee is helping expand food access in eastern Will County, according to a report presented to the Will County Board Public Health & Safety Committee on Tuesday, February 5, 2026.

Caitlin Daly, Program Manager for the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) Collaborative, updated the board on the progress of initiatives funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Daly highlighted the success of New Hope Christian Church in Monee, which utilized grant funding to build a kitchen equipped with commercial-grade appliances. The facility has been operational for approximately one year.

“They’ve been really able to expand their Meals on Wheels access into the eastern part of the county,” Daly said.

In addition to food distribution, the Monee location has integrated educational programming. A Cordon Bleu-trained chef has joined the ministry to teach culinary skills to youth. Daly noted that the church held weekly cooking classes for children for about four months, culminating in a project where students prepared a three-course meal.

The report also detailed progress at Riverwalk Homes in Joliet, which received funding to upgrade plumbing and electrical systems for a teaching kitchen. Expected to launch by summer, this facility will work in conjunction with an on-site pantry to help seniors and residents with illnesses learn how to cook using the ingredients they receive.