DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - The WSOY Community Food Drive is ready to go next week. One of the benefactors of the drive, Northeast Community Fund, is excited to see what the Decatur community can do this year.
Northeast Community Fund serves anywhere from 160 to 220 people Monday through Friday at its market, where people in need can go in and "shop" for groceries for their family.
"It's a ton of food. I mean, we need so much food," said Sharon Bunch, assistant director of the organization. "If every day was the 225 patrons coming through the door on the days we're open, the market is only so big. [The market] is quickly depleted throughout the day as we have availability of products."
Even though Northeast is supplemented by other pantries and organizations in the area, the need is growing fast. More and more families need help getting groceries.
"Even the last few months, we've had new patrons. About 15 to 20 weekly signing up that have never been in the database before," Bunch said.
At the market, families are essentially given a budget based on their personal situation. They can then pick out items their family wants or needs.
In just one day, the WSOY Food Drive provides enough money and food donations to help supply Northeast for the remainder of the year.
"It is super vital, the donations that come in," Bunch said. "From the monetary donations to the non-perishable items, it pretty much balances out, coming in to almost the end of the year."
The WSOY Community Food Drive takes place Friday, Oct. 3, at the Airport Plaza Kroger in Decatur. Non-perishable items and monetary donations will be accepted all day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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