Illinois community colleges are launching their third annual Feed the Need Campus Food Drive to fight food insecurity among students, with collections running from Oct. 19 through Nov. 30.
The statewide initiative, organized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), engages campuses in a friendly competition to collect non-perishable food items for local food pantries and campus-based food banks. The commemorative plaque goes to the college that collects the most items.
Last year, Illinois community colleges collectively donated more than 180,000 food items, according to the ICCB. That total far outpaced the 91,000 items collected in the inaugural 2024 effort. Elgin Community College claimed last year's top spot, with strong participation from John Wood Community College, College of DuPage, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges and Shawnee Community College.
"Over the past two years, Feed the Need has grown into a tremendous statewide effort, demonstrating what Illinois Community Colleges can accomplish when we come together around a shared purpose," said ICCB Executive Director Brian Durham. "Food insecurity continues to be a real challenge for many students and families, and we encourage every college to get involved and help us build on the momentum we have created."
"Feed the Need reflects the very best of our community college system: colleges supporting their students, responding to the needs of their communities and working together to make a greater impact," said ICCB Board Chair Dr. Sylvia Jenkins. "The growth of this effort over the past two years has been inspiring."
How to help
Students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items at designated drop-off locations on community college campuses statewide. All donations directly support students and families facing hunger, organizers said.
The ICCB says that, according to studies, as many as 40% of community college students nationally face food insecurity.
Background
Launched in 2024, Feed the Need is a systemwide effort led by the ICCB that engages all 39 community college districts. Bureau County, which includes Princeton, is served by Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, according to the Illinois Community College Board's listing of high school districts by community college district. IVCC collects donations for its on-campus Eagles Peak Food Pantry, according to the college's website.