The Decatur-area community came together Friday to raise more than $1 million to help provide food assistance to local families.
A record $1.051 million was raised during a one-day community food drive at the Kroger on Route 36. Thousands of community members, volunteers and supporters took part, helping make the event one of the largest local efforts to fight food insecurity.
The total includes donations from individuals, businesses, foundations and other community supporters.
Major contributors included the Andreas Foundation, ADM, Kroger, Millikin University, Memorial Health, Caterpillar and Primient.
Local schools also took part in a fundraising competition, with prize money provided by community partners and matched through the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation. The foundation also contributed an additional $5,000 to the competition during the food drive.
The winning schools were:
First place: St. Teresa High School, $6,500
Second place: St. Patrick School, $4,000
Third place: Mt. Zion High School, $2,500
Fourth place: Eisenhower High School, $2,000
Fifth place: Maroa-Forsyth, $1,250
Food donations collected during the event will be distributed to Catholic Charities, The Salvation Army and Northeast Community Fund. Those organizations will store and distribute the food to families in need.
Money raised through the food drive will be distributed to local food pantries through an application process. Funding decisions will be based on each pantry’s food budget.
Organizers say the response shows what can happen when the Decatur community comes together to help its neighbors.
More than $1 million raised in one day will now help provide food and resources to local families facing food insecurity.
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