October 3, 2025 – Today is the day the WSOY Community Food Drive brings Macon County together for one goal: to fight hunger. But this year, the need is more urgent than ever. Food pantries across our community are facing a perfect storm—increased demand, fewer resources, and a rise in families teetering on the edge of crisis.
The WSOY Community Food Drive is the single largest fundraiser for over 20 food pantries and feeding programs across Macon County. These organizations depend on the food drive to stock their shelves and keep families fed throughout the year.
And with 14.7% of Macon County households facing food insecurity*—that’s over 15,000 people—the support provided through this effort is not just helpful. It’s essential.
One of the fastest-growing populations turning to food pantries is known as ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are people we all know—working families earning just above the poverty line but not enough to cover basic needs like food, housing, childcare, and healthcare.
In Macon County, 26% of families are ALICE households. That’s 1 in 4 families** living one emergency away from falling into poverty. A single car repair or unexpected medical bill could mean the difference between stability and food insecurity—and many ALICE families don’t qualify for federal assistance.
Right now, local food pantries are being hit from every direction:
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The expiration of a $1.2 million USDA grant has cut off access to fresh meat, dairy, and produce.
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Federal cuts to key support programs have left gaps in services for the most vulnerable.
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Food prices are rising, while donation dollars aren’t going as far.
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The economy continues to struggle, pushing more families with young children and more seniors on fixed incomes into crisis.
Every single dollar and non-perishable food item collected during the WSOY Community Food Drive goes directly to local food pantries. It’s the most efficient, high-impact way to make a difference right here at home.
“Community support is the heartbeat of the WSOY Community Food Drive,” says co-founder Kevin Breheny. “Every act of generosity helps us care for our neighbors and reminds us what’s possible when Decatur comes together.”
Give Today until 6 p.m. at Kroger on Rt. 36 in Decatur. You can also:
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Donate Online: wsoyfooddrive.com
- Call 217-864-5070
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Text: WSOY to 26989
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Venmo: @UWDecatur
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Checks: Payable to United Way c/o WSOY Community Food Drive, mailed to 201 W. Eldorado St., Decatur, IL 62522
This isn’t just another food drive or a community tradition. It’s a community standing up for its most vulnerable neighbors. It’s a chance to say: not in our backyard—not to our families, not to our kids, not to our seniors.
*Feeding America – Map the Meal Gap Macon County
**United For Alice
