Elgin Community College collecting now for annual Feed the Need food drive

Elgin Community College is joining community colleges across Illinois to help address food insecurity through the third annual Feed The Need campus food drive.

The initiative, organized by the Illinois Community College Board, engages campuses in a friendly competition while serving a critical need. According to recent studies, as many as 40% of community college students nationally face food insecurity.

“At ECC, we recognize that students can’t thrive academically if their basic needs aren’t met,” Amybeth Maurer, assistant dean of the student experience and engagement, said in a news release. “Feed The Need is a powerful reminder that when we come together as a campus and community, we can make a meaningful difference for students and families facing food insecurity.”

ECC took home the top spot in the 2025 drive, collecting more than 34,000 nonperishable items for the Spartan Pantry. ECC collected the second most the year before.

Nonperishable food items will be collected from Tuesday, Oct. 19, through Monday, Nov. 30. Donations can be dropped off at ECC’s Student Life office in Building B, Room 173. The campus is at 1700 Spartan Drive in Elgin.

The Student Life office is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.

Students, faculty, staff and community members can participate by dropping off nonperishable food items during the drive.

All donations collected at ECC will directly support the Spartan Pantry, ensuring students and local families have access to meals during the holiday season and beyond.

Last year, Illinois community colleges collectively donated more than 180,000 food items to support students and families across the state, nearly double the amount collected in the drive’s first year.

rwest@dailyherald.com