SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Community colleges in Illinois, likely including those in this area, will once again take part in a competitive challenge that could end up helping fellow students. The Illinois Community College Board, for the third year, is launching its annual “Feed the Need” food drive. Matt Berry, spokesman of the Illinois Community College Board, was a guest on the WTAX Morning Newswatch to discuss the upcoming event.

“We want to have one less thing on that student’s plate that they have to worry about, and if we can help raise awareness and raise support at the community colleges — to be able to provide some food support to students — we hope that that’s one less worry that they’ll have to work on, and they’ll be able to focus on their studies and on their long term goals.”

Berry says many community college students are older, have families, and struggle to make all the ends meet while they put themselves through school.

“We were looking around the community college system, and we have a growing number of community colleges that have their own food pantries or food closets on campus to support students’ food insecurity needs. And a lot of those institutions were doing local, local food drives, and we thought, you know, what better way to raise awareness for the need for community college students? “

 Berry said Lincoln Land Community College participated in the last two food drive challenges.