Illinois Community Colleges Launch 3rd Annual Feed the Need Campus Food Drive
Springfield, IL (October 12, 2026) — Illinois Community Colleges are once again coming together this fall to address food insecurity and provide vital support to students and their communities. The 3rd annual Feed the Need Campus Food Drive will launch on October 19th and run through November 30th engaging campuses statewide in a friendly competition to collect non-perishable food items for local food pantries and campus-based food banks.
The statewide initiative, organized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), engages campuses in friendly competition while serving a critical need. Last year, Illinois community colleges collectively donated more than 180,000 food items to support students and families across the state. That total dwarfed the 91,000 items collected in the inaugural 2024 effort.
“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 Brian Durham, ICCB Executive Director. “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. The growth of this effort over the past two years has been inspiring,” said Illinois Community College Board Chair, Dr. Sylvia Jenkins.
The initiative once again encourages friendly competition among participating campuses, with a commemorative plaque awarded to the college that collects the most items. Last year, Elgin Community College claimed the top spot, with strong participation from several other schools including John Wood Community College, College of DuPage, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, and Shawnee Community College.
Students, faculty, staff, and community members are encouraged to participate by donating non-perishable food items at designated drop-off locations on community college campuses statewide. All donations will directly support students and families facing hunger—ensuring access to meals during the holiday season and beyond.
According to studies, as many as 40% of community college students nationally face food insecurity, highlighting the importance of initiatives like Feed the Need. By working together, Illinois community colleges are demonstrating their commitment to student well-being and to the communities they call home.
About the Feed the Need Food Drive
Launched in 2024, the Feed the Need Food Drive is a systemwide effort led by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) to address food insecurity on campuses across Illinois. The friendly competition engages all 39 community college districts in collecting food donations to benefit local food pantries and student support services.
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