
September 30, 2024 – The WSOY Community Food Drive is this Friday, October 4th, from 6 am to 6 pm at the Kroger on Rt. 36. The Food Drive returned after a three-year “retirement,” but has returned due to an increase in need.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions
HOW CAN I GIVE?”
- Click HERE to give online.
- You can text WSOY to 26989 to make a donation
- You can VENMO your donation @UWDecatur
- On Friday, October 4th starting at 6am, you can call 217-405-FOOD (3663) to make your donation. (Please note that phone line does not open until Friday October 4th)
- Collecting food and monetary donations at Kroger on Rt. 36. Check or Charge Accepted. Checks can be mailed to United Way of Decatur and Mid Illinois, 201 W Eldorado St., Decatur IL 62522 C/O WSOY COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE
“CAN I DESIGNATE MY DONATION TO A SPECIFIC CHARITY?”
- If your charity is a food bank or runs a food distribution or feeding program, then yes! However, for donations to other agencies outside of this mission, we ask that you donate directly to those charities. Note: For pledges, we are only able to accept checks written to the United Way C/O The WSOY Community Food Drive.
“IS MY DONATION TAX DEDUCTABLE?”
- Yes, thanks to a partnership with the United Way of Decatur and Mid Illinois, which is a 501C3.
“CAN I DONATE PRODUCE OR PERISHABLE/FROZEN FOODS?”
- Perishable food cannot be accepted on location at the WSOY Community Food Drive due to logistical reasons. However, you CAN directly donate those items to the following charities: Salvation Army, Catholic Charities Food Pantry, Northeast Community Fund. Volunteers are available to take your donation. To have your donation counted towards the WSOY Community Food Drive or a School, please weigh the items and report the weight to the WSOY Community Food Drive via the phone bank.
“CAN I DONATE PET FOOD?”
- The WSOY Community Food Drive is not able to accept pet food for logistical reasons. However, you are welcome to donate pet food to a local animal shelter.
“WHAT ITEMS ARE NEEDED?”
- Anything helps, but the agencies have provided a list of items most needed:
- Canned Fruits, vegetables
- Canned meats
- Canned beans
- Soups and canned meals
- Pasta sauce
- Pasta
- Rice
- Oatmeal
- Cereal
- Boxes meals
- Instant mashed potatoes
- Mac and Cheese
- Granola bars
- Trail mix
- Jerky and beef Sticks
- Dried fruit
- Peanut Butter
- Jelly
- #10 Size canned fruits and vegetables – Will be donated to the Good Samaritan Inn feeding program
- Bulk-size rice, pasta, and sauces- Will be donated to the Good Samaritan Inn feeding program
“WHERE DOES THE FOOD GO?”
- All food donations will be split between Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army, and the 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.
“HOW DO I FIND OUT WHAT SCHOOL IS WINNING?”
- For the latest information on running totals and school standings, please tune into WSOY 1340AM or 103.3FM. You can also listen online at NowDecatur.com or on the NowDecatur app.
“I HAVE FOOD I WANT TO DONATE, BUT I DO NOT HAVE A WAY TO GET IT TO THE FOOD DRIVE?”
- Prior to October 4th, please contact lindsayromano@cimg.media. On October 4th, please call 217-405-FOOD (3663)
“WHY IS THE FOOD DRIVE NEEDED?”
Food Pantries in Macon County have seen a dramatic increase in families seeking food assistance. While 14% of households in Macon County are living below the federal poverty level* and utilize our local food pantries to supplement their food needs, many of these families are seeking assistance for the first time. One of the fastest-growing populations using food pantry assistance are ALICE families. We all know people who are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed —earning more than the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford the basics where they live. 26% of families in Macon County are considered ALICE families. This means that 1 in 4 families in Macon County are defined as ALICE Households.
“WHY ARE ALICE FAMILIES SEEKING ASSISTANCE?
When living paycheck to paycheck, one unexpected expense like a car repair or medical bill could cause a domino effect,
leading to ALICE families falling into poverty. In addition, the cost of food and household essentials has risen dramatically, while wages are failing to keep pace. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic spurred temporary expansion of public assistance through pandemic relief measures. However, those measures reverted to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. In 2019, 1,661,122 households in Illinois were below the ALICE Threshold; by 2022, that number had changed to 1,839,913.**
*2022 Point In Time Study
**United for ALICE Study of Food Insecurity in Macon County Illinois
“WHY IS THE 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.”
To learn more about the WSOY Community Food Drive, including how to give, click HERE.