November is the time of year when one counts their blessings, reflecting upon that for which they are thankful.

Saint Louis University’s community can remember the less fortunate during this time by participating in Campus Ministry’s annual food drive.

Many campus organizations sponsor events promoting the food drive.

This year the events are being co-sponsored by organizations.

“The event is more community focused, so everybody can be more involved,” said Fr. Michael Doody, S.J., director of Campus Ministry.

Students can skip-a-meal by donating one meal from their meal plan to the drive. The cost of each meal is given in a cash contribution to the cause.

T-shirts, featuring the food drive theme “Show Us Your Can,” are available for purchase at the price of $12 in Campus Ministry.

The drive kicks off this Saturday, Nov. 11 with a concert, featuring Old 97’s with Center-Matic, at the Firehouse.

The Firehouse is located on Lindell across from the Olive-Compton Garage. Tickets are available in the Office of Student Life and can also be purchased at the door. Tickets are $5 with a $2 surcharge for minors. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Trick or treat for canned goods, sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega, will be Nov. 12. Organizations will go out and collect canned goods in the neighborhood.

“The can food drive raises awareness of the hunger and poverty problem in St. Louis. Typically we raise a lot of money to give to the local food pantries, but this event helps to actually raise canned goods for those food pantries,” said Mike Cappel, Alpha Phi Omega President.

The Penny War, a competition between the residence halls to collect the most pennies, will start Nov. 12 and go through the week.

On Nov. 13 and 14, there will be parking lot collections. Upon arriving at SLU, students and faculty will be asked for donations at the garages and parking lots.

On Nov. 13 there will be a Bowl-a-Thon at the Tropicana, from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

The cost is $10, which includes shoe rental and three hours of bowling. Happy Hour prices will be at the bar. Transportation to and from will be provided behind Griesedieck. The Chili Cook-off is Nov. 15 outside of Busch Memorial Center. The cost is $1.50 per bowl and 50 cents per soda.

The Third World Meal is Nov. 15 at 5:15 p.m. in the Market Place Cafeteria of Busch Memorial Center. The meal will be divide up into percentages by first, second and third world countries. Seventy percent will receive rice and corn a third world meal. Twenty percent will receive rice and chicken a second world meal. Ten percent will receive lasagna, salad, green beans, bread and dessert.

Project Hunger, a homeless awareness project, sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega and Alpha Delata Pi will be Nov. 16 in the quad. There will be a speaker at the clocktower at 9 p.m. followed by a soup line. Students can sleep outside over-night in boxes in the grassy area next to DuBourg Hall.

Lauren Rubenstein, Alpha Phi Omega pledge educator, believes that this project is a wake-up call about the realities of homeless life.

“This is a good experience for people to see what a homeless person experiences 365 days a year. We only experience their life one night and can barely stay through the night,” Cappel said.

All the contributions are distributed throughout the local, national and international levels. Last year more than $24,000 and two tons of canned food were collected.

“We want to raise money and food to help the hungry, but also raise awareness of hunger and injustice. Also this is a great chance for all students organizations to get together in a University wide mission,” said Kenny Kraft, Student Coordinator of the food drive.

Kraft and Michelle Rogers coordinated the events with the help of Doody and Campus Minister Harry O’Rourke.