Tennessee’s community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology have launched their 26th annual Food Drive Challenge, collecting food and cash donations for campus food banks and local food bank programs serving their communities.
Roane State enters the friendly competition as the reigning Tier 1 community college champions after reporting the most donations in its category last year.
“These donations will help us support students through the holidays and beyond, because we all know that food insecurity doesn’t end with the start of a new year,” Lisa Steffensen, Roane State’s dean of students, said in a news release. “We are so grateful for the generosity of our campus community.”
Donations of food items are accepted during regular business hours at the university’s full-service campus pantries in Roane County, Oak Ridge, Morgan County and Cumberland County. All items must be collected by Friday, December 6.
Participants can also donate to the Roane State Foundation online by designating their donations for the food bank. Donors can specify a stock location or make general donations. Every dollar donated counts as two units of food.
The Tennessee Board of Regents’ Food Drive Challenge was created in 1999 by the Student Government Presidents Council – student leaders from across the state – as a project to help fellow students and others in their community in need. Students have kept the food drive going for 26 years, competing with each other in tiers based on enrollment size to see which college can raise the most.
More than 1.7 million items and funds converted into items have been collected. During the 2023 campaign, 128,039 items were donated.
“Everyone is a winner in this challenge, but the institution with the highest total, by size and category, also wins bragging rights,” said Dr. Heidi Leming, TBR vice chancellor for student success and strategic partnerships.
A 2023 Tennessee Higher Education Commission report, “Food Insecurity and Higher Education,” cited a significant body of research showing that students experiencing food insecurity are less likely to excel academically and more likely to report stress levels that affect their ability to focus on their studies hinder concentration. .
THEC has a web page listing food resources, including food pantries and food pantries on campuses and in communities across the state. Addressing food insecurity among students is a priority of the 13 community colleges and 24 TCATs, including the College System of Tennessee and the Tennessee Board of Regents, which governs the system. Each college in the system will connect students to local services when students indicate this.
Donations to the Roane State Food Pantry are appreciated year-round. All items are free and available to students from any campus. For more information about this resource, visit roanestate.edu/foodpantry.
Tennessee’s community colleges and TCATs have launched their 26th annual Food Drive Challenge, raising food and cash donations for campus food banks and local food bank programs serving their communities. Roane State enters the friendly competition as the reigning Tier 1 community college champions.
Donations of food items during the 26th annual Food Drive Challenge will be accepted at Roane State’s full-service campus pantries in Roane County, Oak Ridge, Morgan County and Cumberland County during regular hours. All items must be collected by Friday, December 6.
Since Tennessee’s community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology launched their annual Food Drive Challenge in 1999, more than 1.7 million items and cash converted into items have been raised.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Roane State Enters Friendly Competition for 26th Food Drive Challenge
