Normal Hosts 3rd Annual Million Meal Pack Event This September

Normal, IL – Illinois State University is gearing up for its 3rd Annual Million Meal Pack event, a community-driven initiative aimed at combating food insecurity. The massive volunteer project is scheduled to take place on September 26, 2026, and organizers are currently seeking participants to help reach their ambitious goal of packing one million meals for local food pantries.

According to University Staff, the event is designed to be highly inclusive and is open to community members and students alike. Participants as young as five years old are encouraged to join the effort, making it a family-friendly activity for those looking to make a meaningful impact within the community. The initiative relies heavily on the dedication of volunteers to manage the high-volume packing process.

The event will be hosted at the CEFCU Arena, located at 702 W. College Ave. in Normal. The packing session is set to run for a full day on September 26, 2026, starting at 8:30 a.m. and concluding at 6:00 p.m. To accommodate the large number of participants needed to reach the one-million-meal milestone, the organizers have structured the day into various shifts.

Admission to the 3rd Annual Million Meal Pack is completely free for all volunteers who wish to contribute their time. By gathering in a central location, participants will work together to ensure that essential food resources are packaged and prepared for distribution to local pantries, directly assisting neighbors facing food scarcity.

Those interested in participating or seeking more information about the logistics of the event are encouraged to visit news.illinoisstate.edu for additional details. University Staff members are coordinating the day's operations to ensure the packing process runs efficiently from the 8:30 a.m. opening until the final shift ends at 6:00 p.m.

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