WHY THE WSOY COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE MATTERS MORE THAN EVER
Updated: Sep 13
Every fall, the WSOY Community Food Drive brings Macon County together around one simple goal: fighting hunger in our community.
But the need hasn't gone away.
Across Decatur and Macon County, families are still struggling to afford the basics. Food prices remain high, household budgets are stretched, and local food pantries continue to serve people who are working hard but simply can't make ends meet.
For the families who rely on them, local food pantries aren't a last resort. They're a lifeline.
A Vital Lifeline for More Than 20 Pantries and Feeding Programs
The WSOY Community Food Drive is the single largest fundraiser for more than 20 food pantries and feeding programs across Macon County.
These organizations depend on the generosity generated by the food drive to help stock their shelves and provide food to local families, children, seniors and individuals throughout the year.
The need is significant.
According to Feeding America's most recent Map the Meal Gap data, 13.8 % of Macon County residents experienced food insecurity in 2024 - one of the higher rates in Illinois. That represents thousands of people who don't always know where their next meal will come from.
And food insecurity doesn't only affect people living in poverty.
A Growing, Hidden Crisis: ALICE Families
Some of the people turning to local food pantries are working.
They're known as ALICE — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
These are families earning too much to qualify for some traditional assistance programs but not enough to afford the actual cost of living in their community. A car repair, medical bill, higher grocery bill or unexpected expense can quickly turn a tight household budget into a crisis.
That means food insecurity can affect people who have jobs, homes and children in local schools.
They're our neighbors, co-workers, friends and families. And when the choice comes down to paying the rent, keeping the lights on, filling the gas tank or buying groceries, something has to give.
Poverty and Food Insecurity Go Hand in Hand
The latest U.S. Census Bureau data shows that 16.7% of Macon County residents live below the federal poverty line. In Decatur, the poverty rate is even higher, at 19.4%.
And children are especially vulnerable. In Macon County, 20.2% of children under 18 live below the federal poverty line—more than 4,500 children.
Poverty and food insecurity are closely connected, but they aren't the same thing. A family doesn't have to be officially poor to struggle to put enough nutritious food on the table.
That's one reason local food pantries are so important.
Children Can't Wait
When families struggle to afford food, children feel the impact.
Food insecurity can affect a child's health, development, ability to concentrate and performance in school. Feeding America reports that children are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, with households with children significantly more likely to experience food insecurity than households without children.
And in Macon County, the challenge is particularly significant: more than one in five children live in poverty. Every meal provided by a local pantry helps give a child one less thing to worry about.
Pantries Are Facing the Same Pressures Families Are
Local food pantries are dealing with many of the same economic pressures facing the families they serve:
Food costs remain elevated, making every donated dollar and every donated item less powerful than it once was.
Working families and seniors on fixed incomes are increasingly vulnerable when household expenses rise.
Children and families living in poverty face greater barriers to consistent access to nutritious food.
And local organizations must continually raise money and secure food to keep pace with demand.
The result is a community challenge that can't be solved by one pantry, one organization or one government program.
It takes all of us.
“The need we're hearing about from our local food pantries is real, and it's growing,” says Brian Byers, co-founder of the WSOY Community Food Drive. “More families are finding themselves in a position where they need a little help putting food on the table. The good news is that this community has always stepped up when our neighbors need us. October 2 is our opportunity to do that again.”
You Can Help
Every dollar and non-perishable food item collected during the WSOY Community Food Drive supports local food pantries and feeding programs. It's a direct way to help people right here in Macon County.
“What makes the WSOY Community Food Drive so special is that every donation stays right here in our community,” says co-founder Kevin Breheny. “When people give, they're helping a local family, a local senior or a local child. It's an incredible example of what can happen when an entire community comes together behind one cause.”
How to Give
The 2026 WSOY Community Food Drive returns Friday, October 2, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Kroger on Route 36 in Decatur.
You can help by:
Online: www.wsoyfooddrive.com
Text: WSOY to 26989
By check: Payable to United Way c/o WSOY Community Food Drive and mailed to 201 W. Eldorado St., Decatur, IL 62522
In person: Bring non-perishable food donations to Kroger on October 2
By phone: Phone lines will be open throughout the food drive
One Day. One Community. One Mission.
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.
This is a community that doesn't look the other way when our neighbors are struggling.
On October 2, Decatur and Macon County have an opportunity to stand together and say:
Not here. Not to our families. Not to our kids. Not to our seniors.
Give today. Every gift matters. Every can counts.
Visit www.wsoyfooddrive.com to learn how you can help fight hunger in Macon County.
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