Elgin Community College Tops Statewide Feed the Need Campus Food Drive

Elgin, IL (December 22, 2025) — Elgin Community College (ECC) took home the top spot in this year’s Feed the Need Campus Food Drive, collecting more than 34,000 non-perishable items for the Spartan Food Pantry. ECC will receive a commemorative plaque in recognition of this achievement. 

“Winning this year’s Feed the Need competition reflects something far more important than a title,” said Peggy Heinrich, EdD, president of Elgin Community College. “It shows how deeply our students and employees care about supporting one another. Access to basic needs is essential for student success. I am incredibly proud of our campus for coming together to support the Spartan Food Pantry and the students who rely on it.” 

Last year, ECC came in second place, donating a total of 17,917 items to our Spartan Pantry.

ECC surpassed last year’s winner, John Wood Community College (Quincy), which was among the top 5 donating schools, along with Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, College of DuPage, and Shawnee Community College. More than half of all Illinois Community Colleges took part in this year's Feed The Need Campus Food Drive competition.

Food insecurity remains a significant challenge for college students nationwide, with recent data showing that approximately 41% of students report food insecurity — meaning they lack consistent access to sufficient food according to the 2023–2024 Student Basic Needs Survey by Temple University’s Hope Center. Other national analyses suggest that the overall prevalence of food insecurity among U.S. college students can exceed 40%, markedly higher than estimates for the general U.S. adult population. 

The Feed the Need Campus Food Drive is part of a systemwide effort involving Illinois community colleges working together to support those facing hunger. Through a friendly competition, participating colleges rallied their students, faculty, and community partners to donate food for those struggling with food insecurity, both on campus and in the local communities. 

“We are grateful for the commitment shown by every community college that has embraced our statewide Feed The Need Campaign. Their collective generosity is helping students thrive, and we look forward to seeing this initiative expand even further as more colleges join the effort,” said Illinois Community College Board Chair Dr. Sylvia Jenkins.