Northeast Community Fund shares how food drives provide much needed help

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Each day, between 150 and 200 people receive food from Northeast Community Fund's food pantry. With an average of $50 in food distributed to each person, it takes a lot of support to stock the shelves. That's where events like the WSOY Community Food Drive come in handy, providing much needed inventory to the nonprofit.

"It has historically been a really big part of our funding throughout the year and our product retention," said Joshua Perkins, Director of Food Operations at Northeast Community Fund. "It just sets us up through the whole rest of the year, the community has always been so great and supportive of that and we are so appreciative to be part of it."

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The food pantry is organized like a traditional grocery store, allowing people who come into the building to choose food that they want out of different food groups. Northeast also delivers food to people who can't make it to the building themselves. In addition to providing nutritious food to people, Perkins says the boxes bring a sense of encouragement.

"We just want them to know that there's hope, that even if their times are hard and they're in a bad place, that there are people out there that are going to give them a hand and help them out," said Perkins. "They aren't alone in this. And that's really the spirit that we're here for. "

The Community Fund is one of several organizations that will receive food and funding from the all-day food drive.