Freeport Noon Rotary partnered with Highland Community College (HCC) and The Outreach Program on October 5, 2026, for a meal-packing event at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau in downtown Freeport. A total of 31 Rotary and HCC volunteers worked together to prepare 3,996 nutritious Spanish rice meals for the HCC Food Pantry.
The project is expected to provide approximately 2,000 individual meal distributions, helping address food insecurity among HCC students and employees. The pantry primarily serves adult students and student-athletes who need supplemental food assistance. For some students, limited transportation and access to other community resources make the pantry an especially important source of support. By providing nutritious meals, the project helps students meet basic needs while pursuing their educational and career goals. The project's benefits extended beyond the college. Leftover ingredients were donated to The Salvation Army in Freeport, while remaining project funds were used to provide donations of $203.18 each to the Freeport Area Church Cooperative and Joseph's Pantry. Funding was provided by Freeport Noon Rotary and a matching grant from Rotary District 6420. The project illustrates how Rotary partnerships can address food insecurity while supporting educational success and strengthening the broader community.