December 1, 2005

Purdue students surpass food drive goal

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Just in time for Thanksgiving, Purdue students rallied together during the annual Fall Harvest Food Drive to collect 11,605 pounds of food, surpassing their goal of 10,000 pounds of food.

"More students than ever participated this year, which definitely helped us achieve our goal," said Kimberly Martin, assistant dean of students for community engagement and involvement and director of Boiler Volunteer Network. "All food collected was given to Food Finders Food Bank, the food pantry clearinghouse for all such agencies in the Greater Lafayette area.

"The students' effort will ensure that many local families in need have a great Thanksgiving and beyond."

Student groups who collected the most food in their category were Owen Hall, the top residence hall with 2,370 pounds of food; FIJI, the top Greek-letter organization with 540 pounds of food; Graduate Student English Association, the top student organization with 521 pounds of food; and the food science department, the top faculty/staff group with 436 pounds of food.

Other notable groups included the Hawkins Graduate House with 445 pounds of food, Alpha Phi Omega with 430 pounds of food; Science Counseling Administration with 385 pounds of food; Multicultural Greek Council with 346 pounds of food; Purdue Research Organization with 318 pounds of food; Purdue Catholic Students with 250 pounds of food; National Organization for Women with 246 pounds of food; College of Education with 235 pounds of food; and the Consumer and Family Sciences Student Council with 195 pounds of food.

The next project of the Boiler Volunteer Network, which is housed out of the Office of the Dean of Students, is the Season of Sharing program, where individuals and groups can sponsor needy children and families. Students interested in participating can start picking up ornaments now. The unwrapped gifts are due back Dec. 12.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Kimberly Martin, (765) 496-2450, klmartin@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page