The Champaign County Holiday Food Drive brought in 431 pounds of food for local families in need. Donations included canned goods, pantry staples and fresh potatoes. Community support has been strong throughout the drive.
CHAMPAIGN — A steady stream of generosity has been flowing into the Champaign County Extension office this month, as community members dropped off bag after bag of food for the annual Holiday Food Drive. What began as a simple call to help local families has turned into a heartening display of neighbors stepping up for one another during a time when many could use a boost. Volunteers have sorted through an impressive variety of donations — everything from soups and canned vegetables to rice, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, and condiments. One unexpected but welcome staple has been the repeated delivery of fresh potatoes, a gesture that Extension staff say will make for plenty of hearty Thanksgiving side dishes.
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“The turnout for this food drive has just been amazing,” said University of Illinois SNAP-Ed educator Tracy Bowden. “It’s great to see the community come together and support each other during this challenging time.” This week, the donations began making their way into the community. University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed is distributing the collected items to three Head Start locations and three food pantries across Champaign County. One of the first deliveries went to the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County in Rantoul. By Monday afternoon, Nov. 24, the cumulative weight of donated food had reached 431 pounds — a number that reflects both need and compassion. All items collected through the Holiday Food Drive will continue to support families and individuals throughout the county, offering a measure of comfort and nourishment as the holiday season unfolds.
