For Individuals

– You can participate by making a monetary donation in advance! Checks can be made to the United Way c/o the WSOY Community Food Drive. Donations are tax-deductible. Checks can be mailed to 201 W Eldorado St., Decatur IL 62522.

– GIVE ONLINE! You can make an online donation anytime between now and October 15th through our online portal or Venmo

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– On October 8th, we will be able to collect your monetary donation by cash, check or charge at Kroger on Rt. 36. We will also have a phone line available that day for phone donations and pledges by calling 217-875-3350. (Phone line only open on October 8th)

For Businesses and Organizations

– Make a monetary donation! And we would love to thank you on the air! Let us know if you wish to set up a presentation time by contacting Lindsayromano@neuhoffmedia.com

– Companies and organizations can consider an employee match contribution. For larger companies wishing to set up a company giving portal, please contact dbogle@uwdecatur.org. (Limited to companies over 300)

– If your business has a marquis, sow your support by displaying “WSOY Community Food Drive, October 8, 2021. 6am-6pm Kroger Rt. 36 East”  

– 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 lindsayromano@neuhoffmedia.com 

For schools

Thanks to our community partners, we can again offer a substantial financial award to the top five local schools that collect the most monetary donations for our 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. 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 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 

Last year’s winners were (1st) Eisenhower High School (2nd) St. Teresa High School (3rd) Mt. Zion High School (4th) Holy Family (5th) MacArthur High School. 

If you would like to donate your time, please sign up through our volunteer portal below.  Due to COVID-19, we will be limiting the number of volunteers available on-site.

Why is the WSOY Community Food Drive only accepting monetary donations?

Due to rising cases of COVID-19 in our community, the WSOY Community Food Drive wants to ensure a safe event, while also ensuring the ability to provide for our community food banks during this time of need.   Because of this, The WSOY Community Food Drive is asking for monetary donations only.  The reason is fourfold:  

• Purchasing Power – Thanks to a partnership with the Central Illinois Food Bank, Decatur foodbanks will be able to purchase food for .19 per pound.  This means $1 can purchase 5lbs of food! 
• Avoiding Waste – Continuing to use a “cash” only system allows the pantries to purchase goods they need the most on an as-needed basis and as their space allows, eliminating the need for off-site storage and the risk of expiration and contamination.   
• Minimizing Manpower – The WSOY Community Food Drive has always been blessed with hundreds of volunteers. However, due the risks associated with COVID, we feel it is necessary to minimize the amount of manpower on site.  By collecting monetary donations only, we can cut our manpower by over half. 

Can I still bring food?

Because the WSOY Community Food Drive will lack the necessary logistics to accept food, we ask that you drop off any food donations directly to one of these agencies.  You can report your donation (and designated school) to the food drive during the event by calling 217-875-3350 or by emailing lindsayromano@neuhoffmedia.com. We want to make sure your donation is counted!

• The Salvation Army – 229 W. Main St in Decatur
• Catholic Charities – 247 W. Prairie Ave in Decatur
• Northeast Community Fund – 839 N. MLK Dr in Decatur

Where does the money go?

All of the funds raised during the WSOY Community Food Drive go towards the purchase of food. Funds are deposited into the Central Illinois Food Bank and then allocated to granted agencies to ensure that the funds are only used for 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.

Last year, thanks to cash donations and the added purchasing power, an equivalent of over 3.2 million pounds of food were raised during our twelve hours of broadcast. This year, we hope to exceed that amount through your monetary donations! Every cent raised goes to the purchase of food! 

Last year, because of the wonderful generosity of the community, the WSOY Community Food Drive was able to assist Catholic Charities Food Pantry, The Salvation Army Food Pantry, Good Samaritan Inn, Northeast Community Fund, Extended Hands/Reasonable Services, Crossing Healthcare Prescription Gardens, Big Blue Backpacks, Mt Zion Food Pantry, AMELCA, Helping Hands Food Pantry, Moundford Food Pantry, Gods Shelter of Love, Blue Mound Food Pantry and more. 

For other questions, please contact LindsayRomano@NeuhoffMedia.com

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@neuhoffmedia.com or mailed to: WSOY Community Food Drive 250 N. Water St., Suite 100 Decatur IL, 62523.