For Individuals

1. GIVE ONLINE! You can make an online donation anytime between now and October 4th through our online portal.

2. Call 217-405-FOOD (3663) on October 4th to make your donation over the phone. (Note that the phone line is only operational on October 4th)

3. You can text WSOY to 26989 to make a donation

4. You can VENMO your donation @UWDecatur

5. On October 4th, we will be able to collect your food donations or monetary donation by cash, check or charge at Kroger on Rt. 36. 

For Businesses and Organizations

Thanks to Central Illinois Media Group, The WSOY Community Food Drive will be awarding a $2000 radio advertising package to the business or organization with the most creative fundraising effort!

1. Make a monetary donation!

2. Companies and organizations can consider an employee match contribution.

3. If your business has a marquis, show your support by displaying “WSOY Community Food Drive, October 4, 2024. 6am-6pm Kroger Rt. 36”

For schools

Schools participating in the WSOY Community Food Drive just got even more incentive to raise the most food and funds for the drive thanks to the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.

Thanks to our community partners, we offer a substantial financial award to the top five local schools that collect the most food and monetary donations for the drive.  Individuals, businesses, schools, and groups can collect donations ahead of time or come out to Kroger that day and make a donation in the name of a school.

The top five schools that generate the most donations will be awarded a cash prize.  Cash awards were originally $2500 for 1st, $1500 for 2nd, $1000 for 3rd, $750 for 4th, $500 for fifth.

But, thanks to a generous gift from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, those prize amounts have DOUBLED! Now the prizes are as follows:

• 1st Place – $5000
• 2nd Place – $3000
• 3rd Place – $2000
• 4th Place – $1500
• 5th Place – $1000

Anyone can help support their favorite school by donating in the name of the school.  Parents, grandparents, booster clubs, bands, athletic teams and teachers can and will make the difference.  All Macon/Piatt County Schools grades K-12 are eligible to participate.

Thank you for helping us #FeedtheNeed in our community!  

On behalf of the WSOY Community Drive, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support helping us to raise food and funds for the WSOY Community Food Drive on October 4th. 

With your help, we will be able to make a significant difference in the lives of families in need within our community.  

Every dollar and pound you help us raise will go directly towards providing meals to individuals and families who are struggling. Together, we are making a meaningful impact in our community. Thank you once again for your generosity and for believing in this cause! 

Click HERE to access tools, email templates, social graphics and logos to help you with your WSOY Community Food Drive Fundraiser! 

Why is the WSOY Community Food Drive returning?

In 2021, following a generous $1,000,000.00 gift from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the WSOY Community Food Drive announced the end of its run after raising an astounding 23 million pounds of food during its 20-year history. 

But now,  our community pantries are running critically low on supply and funds. 

“In 2021, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation’s gift of one million dollars provided a tremendous opportunity to give the pantries a financial cushion for the coming years while also allowing a successful 20-year food drive to come to an end,” says co-founder Brian Byers. “But after being approached by many of the food pantries and agencies about the challenges they are facing, we realize the need remains.” 

“The rising cost of food and inflation in the past few years is leaving many families the difficult choice between feeding their families or putting a roof over their heads,” says co-founder Kevin Breheny. “And those challenges have also stretched the pantries thin, leaving some with bare shelves and diminished funds to stock them.” 

Co-organizer and President of United Way of Decatur and Mid Illinois, Debbie Bogle, said “food insecurity affects nearly 14% of families in Macon County alone*. 44% of Macon County residents are either living in poverty (19%) or earning just above the Federal Poverty Level but less than what it costs to make ends meet (26%). We have a growing population of ALICE families (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)** who are seeking assistance for the first time.” 

* Feeding America 2022 Macon County Food Insecurity Rates    

** unitedforalice.org/county-reports/Illinois 

Can I donate non-perishable food?

Yes! We will be accepting both monetary and food donations! Monetary gifts can be donated at any time between now and October 4th. (See how to give). Food can be donated the day of the event on October 4th between 6am and 6pm at the Kroger on Rt. 36. Volunteers will be available in our donation drive through to unload your food donations. *Only non-expired non-perishable food will be accepted.

Where does the food go?

All food donations will be split between Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, and Northeast Community Fund. Any bulk wholesale donations (think “Sam’s Club” size containers) will be donated to The Good Samaritan Inn for their feeding program.

Where does the money go?

All of the funds raised during the WSOY Community Food Drive go towards the purchase of food. Agencies interested in receiving grant funding from the WSOY Community Food Drive must complete a grant application prior to receiving funding. The WSOY Community Food Drive committee then allocates funds based on applications.

Thank you for your interest in The WSOY Community Food Drive!  We would like to learn more about your organization and how we may be able to work together to fight hunger. All applicants must currently be providing food assistance.  Please complete the following application in full. Applications can be emailed to lindsayromano@CIMG.media. Fund allocation will be determined by the WSOY Community Food Drive fund allocation committee.