June 27, 2024 – The WSOY Community Food Drive has announced that it will return on October 4, 2024 to address the food shortages facing local pantries.
Read More: To go to the WSOY Community Food Drive Page, click HERE.
WSOY, NowDecatur, United Way of Decatur and Mid Illinois, ADM, Kroger, and our community partners; Buds and Blooms, Central Illinois Media Group, Colee’s Corner Drug, Dales Southlake Pharmacy, Decatur Back and Neck, Dynagraphics, First Mid Bank and Insurance Group, Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, Hickory Point Bank, Investment Planners Inc., Jones and Thomas/JT Net, McDonalds Decatur, McLeod Trucking, Skeff Distributing, Speed Lube, and WAND-TV are pleased to announce the return of the WSOY Community Food Drive on October 4th, 2024, from 6am to 6pm at the Airport Plaza Kroger on Rt. 36 in Decatur. (1818 Airport Plaza, Decatur.)
-The Need Remains-
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.
“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
-How to Give-
- GIVE ONLINE NOW! You can make an online donation on the Food Drive page at NowDecatur.com
- TEXT TO GIVE NOW! Text WSOY to 26989
- VENMO @UWDecatur
- You can participate by making a monetary donation. Checks can be made to the United Way c/o WSOY Community Food drive. Checks can be mailed to 201 W Eldorado St., Decatur IL 62522
- On October 4th, we will once again be collecting food! You can also make a monetary donation by cash, check or charge at Kroger on Rt. 36 between 6am and 6pm. We will also have a phone line available that day for phone donations and pledges.
- Companies and organizations can consider an employee match contribution.
- If your business has a marquis, show your support by displaying “WSOY Community Food Drive, October 4, 2024. 6am-6pm Kroger Rt. 36”
- Let us know if your company is doing a special promotion or fundraiser for the food drive so we can share it! You can email details to shyerkraus@CIMG.media
Thanks to our community partners, we will again offer a substantial financial award to the top five local schools that collect the most food and/or monetary donations for the drive. Anyone can help support their favorite school by donating in their school’s name. All Macon County Schools grades K-12 are eligible to participate.
This year’s cash awards are as follows:
- 1st Place – $2,500
- 2nd Place – $1,500
- 3rd Place – $1,000
- 4th Place – $750
- 5th Place – $500
For those wishing to volunteer, a sign-up portal is available now on the Food Drive Page at NowDecatur.com. In addition, charities interested in receiving funding from the WSOY Community Food Drive, a fund distribution application is also available on the WSOY Food Drive Page at NowDecatur.com
For more information:
Lindsay Romano, 217-972-1992, lindsayromano@CIMG.media
