Volunteers serve food to the community at the Towne Square Pavilion in Carbondale. (Photo by Russell Bailey)
November 13, 2026
Feeding Our Community returns to Carbondale’s Town Square Pavilion
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Feeding Our Community returns Wednesday, Nov. 18, with a free lunch at Carbondale’s Town Square Pavilion. Anyone who stops by is welcome to eat. The meal runs from noon to 2 p.m., and no registration is needed.
Each November, the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Office of Sustainability and Office of Student Engagement team up to host the meal. It brings students and community members together to raise awareness and support people who may be unhoused. The event is also a centerpiece of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which SIU recognizes during its Leadership and Service Week.
Tess Brummer, a junior majoring in public health whose minors include environmental studies and sustainability, is one of the event’s organizers and hopes to see it keep growing.
“Feeding Our Community is about showing up for the people around us,” Brummer said. “Sharing a meal is a simple act, but it really does matter. It brings people from all walks of life to the same table, and it reminds us to take care of one another.”
Bethany Peppers, director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Leadership and Service, points to national research to explain why the week matters. About 1 in 6 children in the U.S. live in poverty, and 44 million Americans are at risk of going hungry. Peppers, a two-time SIU Carbondale alumna, said students and staff can play an important role in supporting the local community.
“Through volunteering, donations and community outreach, we can make a meaningful difference while fostering compassion, empathy and civic responsibility,” she said. “Even small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact.”
Additional details
Volunteers are welcome. No experience is needed, just a willingness to show up and be part of a caring community effort. Sign up here.
For more information, contact Andrew Taylor, coordinator of campus outdoor programs and sustainability, at 618-453-2906 or andrew.w.taylor@siu.edu.
More Leadership and Service Week events
- Free headshots: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16-17, Student Center Headshot Studio.
- Sustaining Our Service: Candle Making: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Student Center red-tiled dining area next to the Roman Room.
- Leadership Breakfast: 9 a.m. Nov. 19, Student Center Old Main Room. This year’s topic covers support systems for students.
For questions about Leadership and Service Week, call 618-453-5714.