Student-led food drive rakes in canned goods for holiday season

This month, the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) Residential Colleges partnered with the Student United Way at ASU to promote awareness of hunger and homelessness in our local communities. These groups collaborated to coordinate a university-wide food drive competition. Students across all four campuses contributed to the success of the food drive, which collected more than 1,200 non-perishables. 

All 13 residential colleges at Arizona State University competed in the “We CAN End Hunger” Canned Food Drive competition, which was also the first event designed for all Residential Colleges’ participation.

The collection concluded on Nov. 17, with the final drop-off point at the Devils on Mill Tailgate before the last ASU football game at home this season. The CLAS and University Housing teams offered giveaways at the event, including free water and snack bars generously provided by Aramark dining services.

The Student United Way at ASU table encouraged students to donate canned goods and to take the Pledge to End Hunger. The pledge, part of the Valley of the Sun United Way’s efforts to end hunger in Maricopa County, requires nothing more than a name and email address – no financial commitment needed. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will donate one dollar for every pledge collected. 

Immediately following the Devils on Mill event, volunteers packed up two trucks and delivered more than 1,000 non-perishable items to Urban Outreach, a homeless outreach program at the Tempe First United Methodist Church on University Drive. Student United Way members spent a few extra hours sorting and counting those donations.

All donated items helped the Student United Way provide Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of individuals experiencing homelessness. Hundreds of cans remain to help Urban Outreach provide meals to those in need for the rest of the season.

The residential communities with the greatest collection efforts were the ASU West Barrett and the CLAS Academy at McClintock Hall, which collected 1.8 and 1.9 cans per resident, respectively. These communities will collaborate to form the Spirit Tunnel and will have floor recognition at the Jan. 6, 2013 men’s basketball game.