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DECATUR, Ill. – �鶹Լ�� University kicked off its collection campaign to support the WSOY Community Food Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 3, when President Dean Pribbenow challenged Big Blue students, staff, faculty, and alumni in supporting the annual fundraiser. 

The supports over 20 food pantries and feeding programs in Macon County and . 

“The WSOY Food Drive is so important to the Decatur and broader community. It's a basic right to have access to healthy food, and we know that food insecurity is a critical issue. We know it's an issue on this campus for some of our students, and we recognize that,” Pribbenow said. “When I arrived in town a couple of months ago and started talking to our community partners, they said, we would really love to welcome �鶹Լ�� into this broader WSOY Food Drive as a key partner. So I adopted it early on and was delighted to be able to challenge our campus to get involved in contributing in all the ways that we possibly can to this important goal.”

Local food pantries rely on the WSOY Community Food Drive to keep their shelves stocked and families fed. Approximately 15% of households in Macon County are considered food insecure, representing a population of over 15,000 people in the county. At the same time, federal cuts to support programs, rising food prices, and a struggling economy have left more families turning to pantries for help.

Every dollar and non-perishable food item raised during the WSOY Community Food Drive goes straight to our local food pantries.

�鶹Լ��’s has set a goal of raising 5,000 pounds of donations through a competition that pits students in Athletics, Greek Life, and Registered Student Organizations against each other to collect the most donations. 

Each campus office will have a collection bag for donations, and larger donation containers can be found on the first floors of the following locations: University Commons, Rathje Athletic Center, Shilling Hall, ADM-Scovill, the Alumni & Development Office, and the Center for Theatre & Dance (outside main office). Every Wednesday from 7:30-10 a.m., students will be waiting outside the University Commons to collect food donations, allowing donors to remain in their cars.

that will be included as part of �鶹Լ��’s total contribution. Each $1 of support equates to one pound of food.

Find more information on �鶹Լ��’s collection efforts at .