Next Thursday will be Thanksgiving, traditionally the largest meal of the year, but 33.6 million people across the United States must worry about their next meal. They are hungry or at risk of hunger, according to the 2001 U.S. Census Bureau. In Champaign alone, 19,506 people live in poverty.

In 2001, a self-sufficiency standard for Champaign-Urbana was taken by Diana Pearce, senior lecturer at University of Washington’s School of Social Work and director of the Women in Poverty Project. The report states that a family of four needs to have an income level at $39,797 to meet their basic needs (food, housing, transportation, healthcare and childcare). However, more than 1/3 of households fail to meet this standard.

But there are organizations around Central and Eastern Illinois making efforts to combat the problem, an effort that you can participate in this Thanksgiving season in several ways.

Today at the Potbelly restaurant in Champaign, you can trade in at least three non-perishable food items for a free sandwich. The all-day food drive is an annual, nationwide Potbelly event that supports the impoverished in communities across the U.S.

“We are hoping to get at least 3,000 items for this store,” said Matt Lorenz, assistant manager. “We are prepared to give more than 1,000 sandwiches.”

Lorenz said it’s a response to the Thanksgiving holiday and the effort to “stamp out” hunger. He recommended foods high in protein, such as caned beans and peanut butter. Once collected, the food will go to the Central Illinois Foodbank for distribution.

Pot Belly isn’t acting alone to help the hungry.

Community Service Center in Rantoul is ready with an emergency food pantry to serve residents of northern Champaign County. Families finding themselves in situations in need of food can come to the food pantry and get what they need to prepare the food at home. The center is supported by an organization of churches in the Rantoul area, the Greater Rantoul Ministerial Association. But despite their location, donations are accepted from individuals, clubs and churches from the surrounding towns.

Another organization is the Faith United Methodist Church in Champaign. It holds a year-round food drive and collaborates with two non-profit social service organizations, First Call for Help and Empty Tomb. The two organizations send referrals of needy families to Faith United so the donations are assembled weekly into care packages and given to families in need.

On a national level, the non-profit organization, United Way maintains such programs. Pia Byron, director of marketing and communications at United Way of Champaign, said that there are limitless volunteering and donating opportunities through the organization.

“We have been working closely with the Office of Volunteer Programs at the University of Illinois,” Byron said. “We are also creating a database, so that if anyone calls to volunteer, we can narrow down where and how they’d like to volunteer and set up an opportunity for them.”

United Way uses its volunteers to collect funds and resources to support the needs of the community, be it food, shelter or even healthcare for the under-insured.

“Our mission statement is to strengthen the community – through leadership – in mobilizing resources to meet human care needs in Champaign County,” she said.