WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FOOD DRIVE; Traffic Changes, giving Info, and more

Donors to this year's WSOY Community Food Drive have a chance to win two major sports experiences while helping provide food to local families in need. For every $500 donated, donors will be entered to win a Cardinals KMOX Experience. The prize includes four premium tickets in the 703 Club or UMB Champions Club during the 2026 season, plus the opportunity to spend an inning inside the famed KMOX broadcast booth. For every $1,000 donated, donors will be entered to win a VIP Il

The Macon County Animal Control and Care Center is holding a special “Cans for Cats” adoption promotion through October 1 to benefit the WSOY Community Food Drive. During the promotion, people can bring canned food donations to the shelter to have standard cat adoption fees waived. For adult cats, adopters donate one can for every pound the cat weighs. For example, a 17-pound cat would require 17 cans for a free adoption. All kittens can be adopted for a donation of five cans

The team at Brinkoetter Realtors were at it again this year with their Brinkoetter Supermarket Sweep to benefit the WSOY Community Food Drive on October 2nd! Teams shopped for as much as they could at the Kroger on Rt 36 and the team to spend the most was crowned this year's champion! Find out who won this year and check out the video now!

The WSOY Community Food Drive is more than a one-day event. It's an investment in our neighbors. It's a way to make sure a parent doesn't have to choose between groceries and the electric bill. It's a way to make sure a senior doesn't have to choose between medication and food. And it's a way to make sure a child has enough to eat.

Last year’s competition was fierce, with St. Teresa High School once again taking home the top prize of $5000. Mt Zion High School was close behind in second place, followed by St Patrick School in 3rd, Our Lady of Lourdes in 4th, and Maroa Forsyth in 5th. Who will take the prizes this year?

The drive’s success depends on a powerful coalition of community-minded organizations. Leading the charge are our presenting sponsors WSOY, NowDecatur, United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois, ADM, Kroger, the Decatur Park District, and new this year, The Andreas Foundation—pillars of the effort that have helped grow the Food Drive into the largest fundraiser of its kind in Macon County.

As the WSOY Community Food Drive gears up for its annual day of giving on October 2nd, organizers have released answers to some of the most frequently asked questions from donors and participants.

Hunger isn’t just something that happens somewhere else—it’s affecting families right here in our own neighborhoods. The WSOY Community Food Drive gives churches and faith-based organizations a meaningful opportunity to put faith into action through service, generosity and compassion.

The WSOY Community Food Drive is inviting local businesses, organizations, and community groups to step up and help feed families in need across Macon County. The annual event will take place October 2nd, 2026, at Kroger in Airport Plaza, with all monetary donations benefiting local food pantries through the United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois.

The event is scheduled for September 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. and will give participants the opportunity to create an original collage using cereal boxes and other food packaging, inspired by the work of American pop artist Michael Albert. Albert is known for his "Cerealism" artwork, vibrant, imaginative collages made from cereal boxes and other consumer packaging.

As food insecurity continues to rise across Macon County, local food pantries are seeing more families turn to them for help. While every donation makes a difference, certain non-perishable goods are especially needed to keep shelves stocked and meals balanced.

Our Phone Bank Volunteers will be stationed on-site upstairs at Kroger in Airport Plaza from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., taking pledges and payments from generous donors throughout the day. This is a great way to make a big impact without lifting heavy boxes and staying off your feet.

Millikin University is rallying its students, faculty, staff, student organizations, alumni and friends to support the 2026 WSOY Community Food Drive, with a goal of collecting the equivalent of 8,125 pounds of food and financial donations.

For ADM, that spirit of service is being put into action this fall through Acts for Impact, the company’s global volunteer campaign—and through a longstanding commitment to fighting hunger around the world and in the Decatur community.

Throughout August, customers can choose to “round up” their purchases to the nearest dollar at checkout, with all proceeds going to the WSOY Community Food Drive

August 5, 2026 - The WSOY Community Food Drive has announced the annual event will be held on Friday, October 2nd, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Airport Plaza Kroger on Rt. 36 (1818 Airport Plaza, Decatur). The event is presented by WSOY, NowDecatur, United Way of Decatur and Mid-Illinois, ADM, Kroger, the Decatur Park District, The Andreas Foundation and our dedicated community partners—Buds and Blooms, Central Illinois Media Group, Colee’s Corner Drug, Dale’s Southlake Phar

In just 12 hours, our community came together in an extraordinary show of generosity, raising $867,776 in food and cash during the 2025WSOY Community Food Drive, held today at Kroger on Route 36.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE FOOD DRIVE; Traffic Changes, giving Info, and more

As food insecurity continues to rise across Macon County, local food pantries are seeing more families turn to them for help. While every donation makes a difference, certain non-perishable goods are especially needed to keep shelves stocked and meals balanced.