INA, Ill. (October 20, 2026) — Rend Lake College is joining Illinois Community Colleges this fall to address food insecurity and provide vital support to students and their communities. The 3rd annual Feed the Need Campus Food Drive launched today, October 19, and runs through November 30.
The statewide initiative, organized by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), engages campuses in friendly competition while serving a critical need. Last year, Illinois community colleges collectively donated more than 180,000 food items to support students and families across the state. That total dwarfed the 91,000 items collected in the inaugural 2024 effort.
“Over the past two years, Feed the Need has grown into a tremendous statewide effort, demonstrating what Illinois Community Colleges can accomplish when we come together around a shared purpose,” said Brian Durham, ICCB Executive Director. “Food insecurity continues to be a real challenge for many students and families, and we encourage every college to get involved and help us build on the momentum we have created.”
Throughout the drive, RLC will be collecting non-perishable food items and other essential items to help stock our campus food pantry and support students who may be experiencing food insecurity.
Drop Off Locations
Donation boxes will be conveniently located across the Ina campus in the following locations:
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Administration Building
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Student Center
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South Oasis
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North Oasis
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Wellness Room located inside the Learning Resource Center
- RLCF Children's Center lobby (starting Nov. 1)
Items Needed
While any non-perishable, non-expired goods are welcome, high-demand food items include protein options such as tuna pouches/kits, canned meats, and chicken or ham salad kits, as well as easy heat-and-eat options like Compleats meals, ravioli, soups, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and rice or noodle dishes. Breakfast items and quick snacks are also highly needed, including Pop-Tarts, granola bars, breakfast bars, juice boxes, pancake mix with syrup, and individual bags of snacks like chips, cookies, and crackers, alongside canned pasta sauces.
In addition to food, donations of basic personal hygiene products — such as deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste — are warmly welcomed.
According to the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, food insecurity is a pressing issue, affecting one in three college students nationwide. By participating in this drive, RLC can help ensure that no student goes hungry.
For more information about Feed the Need, please contact Vickie Schulte, Dean of Student Success and Development / Title III Student Success System Developer at schultev@rlc.edu.
