Next Generation School, an independent and private institution in Champaign, will attempt to feed their entire middle school community for just $1 per student, or a total of $59, Friday.

This is being done “to show (the students) how little can be purchased with that minimal budget,” said Kristin Sandone, communications coordinator for Next Generation School.

The challenge is part of Next Generation’s participation in the Eastern Illinois Foodbank’s Food for Families drive. The school is also working to collect enough money to help provide food for hungry local families.

Next Generation has partnered with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank for the past four years, in helping to raise money and awareness, for the annual Food for Families Drive.

“Each year we try to do a different spin on the drive,” Sandone said.

Last year, their focus was to show that for every $1 donated, the food bank could acquire about $10 of food. $1,177 was collected, which equated to $11,170 EIF dollars.

This year, the focus is on the fact that with each $1 donated, the food bank can provide about 4 meals. A goal has been set to provide 10,000 meals this year, which equates to $2,500 in collections. As of Thursday, they had already collected $1,400.