Each year, students face many forms of service or resource insecurities. Of the many insecurities a student may have while at LLCC, food insecurity is often one of the most basic and personal insecurities to navigate. As a campus community, we have risen to this all too common challenge by establishing the LLCC Food Pantry and other events and programs throughout the year to support those in need.

As you can imagine, holidays like Thanksgiving are difficult time as many lack the resources to have a Thanksgiving meal. One initiative that has risen this year to help combat food insecurity faced by our students is called Operation Full Belly: Help for Hungry Students. Operation Full Belly is a joint venture between the Student Life Office, Phi Theta Kappa, TRiO Student Support Services and the LLCC Foundation Office to offer students in need a chance to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

To make Operation Full Belly a success, we need your help. Now through Thursday, Nov. 11, Student Life and PTK will be collecting food item donations. At the same time, the Foundation Office will be collecting monetary donations through Friday, Nov. 12. Funds collected as part of Operation Full Belly will be used to purchase grocery baskets and gift cards for our students who have indicated a need for assistance this Thanksgiving Holiday.

If you can contribute, please visit www.llccfoundation.org/donate and choose “Pay it Forward” from the drop-down menu and in comments type: Student Life/PTK/TRIO. Cash/checks can also be dropped off in the Foundation Office indicating that the gift is for this fund-raising event, and your donation will be directed accordingly.

If you have any questions about Operation Full Belly, please reach out to either Anne Armbruster (anne.armbruster@llcc.edu, 217-786-2478) or Kyle Roughan (kyle.roughan@llcc.edu, 217-786-2315)