Thanks to the success of this year’s food drive, Campus Ministry is able to bring help to other outreach organizations by the truckloads.
“This year we collected at least double the number of cans that we collected last year, probably even more,” said Michelle Rogers, one of the student coordinators of the Food Drive Committee.
Even though Campus Ministry and the Food Drive Committee don’t have an official count of the canned good and monetary donations it has received, the three-week-long event has been deemed a huge success.
“It looks like we’ve raised at least $19,000, and money keeps coming in,” said Michael Schreiner, food drive committee adviser. This amount exceeds last year’s drive, which raised around $18,000.
The canned goods have already been delivered to the following outreach centers in the city: St. Francis Xavier College Church, Karen House, Sunshine Missions and Hosea House.
This year’s food drive was extended to three weeks while in previous years the event only lasted one week. According to Schreiner, the food drive will probably be a three-week event again next year.
“[An extended food drive] really allowed more people to get involved, especially more student groups,” Schreiner said.
One student organization that was able to orchestrate a large donation was the club hockey team, which charged $3 or three canned goods for admission and donated the proceeds to the food drive. According to Schreiner, the Student Government Association and other smaller student groups made substantial donations as well.
The Physical Therapy Student Council advertised around the department classrooms and was able to collect 444 cans.
“We just felt like it was an important event for all student groups to get involved in,” said Laura Andounian, council president.
One of the most successful events coordinated by a student organization was the Student-Activities-Board-sponsored “Can-A-Palooza.”
“Can-A-Palooza” was a talent show that took place on Thursday, Nov. 1 in the Saint Louis Room of the Busch Memorial Center. Individuals and student organization performed a wide variety of skits and talents, from playing originally-composed songs on the guitar to lip-syncing and dancing. Spectators were able to vote for their favorites as often as they liked by donating 50 cents or one canned good per vote. First prize went to senior David Wenzel from the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
“The Saint Louis Room was almost packed, and I think everyone had a lot of fun,” said SAB President Erin Dunn. According to Dunn, the event raised almost $200 and collected more than two trash bins of canned goods.
