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School and service learning
Tool Kit

A group of young people smiling under a tent. Four are at the front, wearing casual clothes, with blue and gray hues. The moo

The WSOY Community Food Drive School & Service Learning Toolkit is designed to help educators, students, and youth groups actively participate in the fight against hunger while gaining valuable lessons in service, leadership, and community engagement.

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Whether you’re planning a classroom competition, a school-wide drive, or a student-led fundraiser, this toolkit helps turn compassion into action—and teaches students the power of making a difference together.

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Thanks to our generous sponsors, we’ll once again award cash prizes to the top five schools collecting the most food and/or funds. Thanks to the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, these prizes have doubled! Anyone can donate in support of a participating Macon County K-12 school. 1st Place – $5000; 2nd Place – $3000; 3rd Place – $2000; 4th Place – $1500; 5th Place – $1000.

FOR
TEACHERS

  • You can also win cash for your classroom! The Reed and Morris Families are adding an exciting twist to this year’s WSOY Community Food Drive with a special Teacher Challenge — offering $1,000 to the teacher whose classroom raises the most food and donations and $500 to the second-place teacher.

    • Teachers who wish to participate can collect both non-perishable food items and monetary donations within their classrooms.

    • Teachers can promote the contest by sharing the teacher incentive giving portal HERE.

    • While those totals WILL count toward the school’s overall contribution, this classroom contest has a specific requirement: all food and monetary donations (not submitted through the Teacher Incentive Giving Portal) must be turned in to the Northeast Community Fund (NECF) by October 1st to qualify. To participate, teachers should arrange for NECF to pick up their classroom donations (both Monetary and Food Donations) by October 1 by calling (217) 429-5846 or by emailing director@northeastcommunityfund.org.

  • ​​​​​​​Teaching students about food insecurity fosters empathy, encourages critical thinking, and empowers them to help break the cycle of poverty through meaningful action. Learn more about child food insecurity in Macon County HERE.

  • Learn more about the growing number of A.L.I.C.E. families. HERE.​

  • Recommended books for students about food insecurity HERE.

  • For curriculum samples and classroom activities, click HERE.

  • Access more materials such as WSOY Community Food Drive posters, social media graphics, and logos HERE.

FOR STUDENTS

  • Need ideas for ways to collect non-perishable food and donations for your class efforts? Click HERE. 

  • Encourage your donors to credit your school with their donation—anyone can! The more support your school receives, the better your chances to win cash prizes for your school! 

  • Our partner food pantries have shared their most-needed items. Click HERE to view the list of requested donations. 

  • Need posters, social media graphics, and logos? Click HERE.

  • Download our Student Toolkit HERE.

service learning

  • Research food insecurity in Macon County and create a presentation.

  • Create posters or videos to raise awareness.

  • Organize a “Food Insecurity Awareness Week" for your school or club.

  • Write your State Lawmaker, Congressperson or Senator to encourage them to support policies and programs that strengthen food assistance, increase funding for local food pantries, and help prevent hunger for children and adults alike.

  • Volunteer at the WSOY Community Food Drive or at a local pantry. Click HERE to volunteer on October 3rd.

  • The WSOY Community Food Drive can provide service learning hour certifications.

Tell us about your efforts

Tell us how your school is supporting the WSOY Community Food Drive. We would like to feature your hard work here, on the radio airwaves, social media, and more. Contact us at info@wsoyfooddrive.com​

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