United Way fights for everyone in our community to have nutritious food.
Video filmed in 2017
Meeting basic human needs
Through the Farmers Feeding Families program, United Way of Champaign County focuses on reducing hunger and its associated health issues in our community. Since 2014, $173,666.48 has been raised through the Farmers Feeding Families program – providing local families with an estimated 500,000 meals.
Over 22,000 people in Champaign County are food insecure – and the number is anticipated to rise sharply this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families that struggle to afford food are ALICE families - they earn more than the federal poverty level but still have a hard time making ends meet. Learn more about thes ALICE families.
A powerful partnership
Every spring, Sage Farms helps United Way plant two fields of corn and beans: 80 acres of land rented from Champaign Unit 4 Schools, and five acres provided freely by Gill Athletics.
Nearly all of the input and labor is donated by farmers and agribusinesses. Over 15 farmers volunteered to harvest the fields last year, completing the work in just over two hours! The profits from the sale of the corn and beans are used to boost United Way’s grants to local hunger and nutrition programs.
Harvesting hope
As a result of this year’s harvest, United Way of Champaign County has been able to increase our 2020 grants to local food programs by 32 percent! These grants fill the shelves of food pantries with fresh produce, provide home-delivered meals for senior citizens, and provide nutritional supplements for people with health conditions.
Food plays a large role in maintaining a healthy life. United Way believes everyone, in every corner of our community, should have access to healthy food for themselves and their families.
We are always looking for farmers and landowners who would like to partner with us. Contact Sue Grey for more information.
"We're sitting here in Illinois, with some of the richest ground in the world. There's no need for someone here to be looking for something to eat."
Perry "Pete" Sage, Thomasboro Farmer
Our Partners
Photo by Scott Paceley
Without land, this program would not exist. We thank Champaign Unit 4 Schools for allowing us to rent 80 acres. We also thank Gill Athletics for allowing us to farm 5 acres next to their offices with no charge.
We'd like to extend a sincere thanks to those who donated inputs, labor, or funds to the Farmers Feeding Families effort in 2020:
Sage Farms
Pete and Marcia Sage
Gary Sage
Spencer Sage
Evan Huls
Jerry Evans
Chad Barnes
Matt Birkey
Tab Carmein
Joe Cannon
Dan Duitsman
Paul Duitsman
Chris Doenitz
Kris Ehler
Mitch Fruhling
Jeremy Hogan
Les Hovlen
Paul Klein
Kelly Loschen
Charles Myerscough
Richard & Linda Parnell
Gavin Pearson
Amy Murray Sage
Brian Stark
Greg Suits
Rick Swearingen
Scott Williamson
Rick Wolken
Craig Wyenn
AgriGold
BASF
Cargill
Carmien Farms
COUNTRY Financial
Doenitz Farms
Ehler Bros. Co.
Farm Credit Illinois
Gifford State Bank
Illini FS
Illinois FBFM Association
Klein Farms
Monsanto
Myerscough Farms
On Track Farming
Parnell Farms
Shaff Implement
Sloan Implement
The Andersons
Wolken Farms