20th Annual WSOY Community Food Drive
The 20th annual food drive will be held Oct. 8, 2021, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Airport Plaza Kroger on Rt. 36 in Decatur.
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 reasons:
• Purchasing Power – Thanks to a partnership with the Central Illinois Food Bank, Decatur foodbanks will be able to purchase food for 19 cents per pound. This means $1 can purchase five pounds 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.
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 12 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, God's Shelter of Love, Blue Mound Food Pantry and more.
How you can help the 20th Annual WSOY Community Food Drive:
• Make a monetary donation. Checks can be made to the United Way c/o WSOY Community Food drive. Mail checks to 201 W Eldorado St., Decatur IL 62522
• GIVE ONLINE NOW! You can make an online donation HERE or by going to the Food Drive page at NowDecatur.com
• Give in person: On Oct. 8, we will be able to collect your monetary donation by cash, check or charge at the Airport Plaza Kroger on Rt. 36. We will also have a phone line available that day for phone donations and pledges.
• Companies and organizations can consider an employee match contribution.
