AH.FoodDonation.jpg

Students collect canned goods for the hungry

Several student organizations are holding food drives to help feed the hungry this holiday season.

Since the beginning of October, Hane Crevalari, a sophomore majoring in international business, and 10 volunteers have been standing in front of Smith’s from 1-3 p.m. every weekend trying to get shoppers to donate canned goods. They will continue through the first two weekends of November.

The donated food collected by Crevalari’s group will be donated to the Cache Valley Food Pantry. So far they have collected almost 2,000 pounds with a goal of collecting 2,500 pounds. They have been raising awareness through Aggie Radio, Facebook events and posters around campus. They also encouraged students to donate food at PoBev for donating three cans. On Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. students and community members are invited to sort through the 2,000 items of canned goods at the food pantry.

“I believe it’s good because it is really hard to get food this holiday and winter season, especially if you have families with a lot of children,” Crevalari said. “It only costs a dollar to buy a can of food, and it really helps get food to those who really need it, and it makes a difference in their life.”

The Val R. Christensen Service Center is also holding a Stuff-A-Bus event every Monday this month from 7-9 p.m. Volunteers go house-to-house handing out bags for community members to fill with nonperishable goods. Later, students are “stuffed” into an Aggie Shuttle and driven around the community, collecting the bags.

According to Chloe Raphael, a volunteer with the service center, Stuff-A-Bus is the largest food drive in Cache Valley. The goal this year is to raise 5,000 to 10,000 pounds of food items for the Cache Valley Food Pantry.

Many groups on campus participate, including several fraternities and the Student Alumni Association. The service center will also be collecting food for the last two home football games at Romney Stadium.

The USU Office of Global Engagement will be holding “Mr. and Miss International” on Nov. 22, during International Education Week. Students can bring canned food and receive a dollar discount on the regular price of admission.

— deonna.edgar@aggiemail.usu.edu