Published on November 7, 2025

The Lake Land College Board of Trustees is expected to approve a temporary lease of the Effingham Technology Center’s commercial kitchen to Deb’s Catering, pending a vote during the next regular board meeting on Monday, Nov. 10.

This lease agreement comes following a significant fire that shut down the Altamont kitchen that houses Deb’s Catering and The Giving Plate, disrupting the business’ vital service of preparing meals for non-profits such as Meals on Wheels and Head Start. In response to this event, Lake Land worked to evaluate the opportunity for a community partnership to help Deb’s Catering and ensure residents throughout the east-central Illinois region continue to receive these essential meals without interruption.

“Lake Land is the community’s college, and we’re dedicated to engaging with our community in meaningful ways,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “We’re thankful that the resources available at the Effingham Technology Center have put us in the position to meet this crucial need and provide vital support to a local, family-owned business that is committed to serving others.”

“A fire may have changed our kitchen, but it hasn’t changed our heart,” said Tiffany Wasson of The Giving Plate. “We’re thankful for this temporary space that keeps us moving forward and for every person who’s stood beside us through it all. The journey continues – and we’re cooking with even more gratitude than before.”

The lease, as to be presented to the board of trustees, will allow Deb’s Catering to operate from the Effingham Technology Center kitchen on a month-to-month basis. The lease stipulates that the kitchen will be used for the limited purpose of preparing approximately 720 meals per day for Meals on Wheels and Head Start as well as an additional 200 meals per day for food services provided to local day care centers. Deb’s Catering will cover any necessary expenses to make the kitchen operational.

“We had several community partners approach us about the possibility of leasing the kitchen to Deb’s Catering following the fire, and we worked diligently to plan an agreement that would meet their needs while also ensuring we remain aligned with our legal obligations and responsibilities toward our taxpayers,” Bullock explained. “We’re very optimistic about the agreement we have prepared, and we’re thankful to be able to provide crucial support and ensure these essential services continue during a challenging time.”