Student organizations compete in annual canned food drive

As we enter the holiday season, many of are accustomed to the grand tradition of gathering with our families at dinner tables--fully loaded with perfectly roasted turkeys and all the trimmings.  Unfortunately, thousands of Texas households are not financially capable of providing such extravagant feasts. 

A host of Texas State University-San Marcos student organizations are teaming up to help those who are less fortunate celebrate Thanksgiving by donating thousands of non-perishable food items to the Hays County Area Food Bank. 

The Student Volunteer Connection (SVC) is co-hosting its annual Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive with the Student Organizations Council (SOC), Order of Omega Greek Honor Society, Residence Hall Association (RHA) and Sports Clubs.  To add an extra incentive, the organizations are competing to raise the most amount of canned food.

Britni Myers, SVC historian and public relations sophomore, said this year, the SVC decided to co-sponsor a campus-wide canned food drive so all student organizations will have a chance to successfully collect thousands of canned food items. 

“The SVC canned food drive suffered last year because so many other student organizations were sponsoring canned food drives,” said Myers, of Granger.  “So we decided that it would be best to get the whole campus involved.”

The student organizations are competing against each other in sub-divisions.  The overall winners will have their organization’s name engraved on a plaque, which will be displayed in the LBJ Student Center. 

Victoria Botello, Order of Omega Greek Honor Society president and international business senior, said although she hopes her student organization will win the overall competition, the real grand prize is the satisfaction of giving back to the San Marcos community.

“The San Marcos community gives us so much,” said Botello, of Laredo.  “We’re just residents here; most of us are from out of town, so this is our way to give back, and to show that we care about San Marcos.” 

Terence Parker, LBJ Student Center assistant director, said by collecting thousands of canned food items for Hays County residents, students will feel more connected with Texas State’s residential community. 

“It’s important because they’re providing a service to people in need, and to people who are not able to have the traditional thanksgiving dinner that we’re so blessed to receive each year,” Parker said.  

Parker said The Greek Affairs staff sponsored the “Hurricane Katrina Challenge” and collected more than 5,000 pounds of canned food items for hurricane victims in 2005. He said it’s impressive to see so many students involving themselves in the fight against hunger, and their hard work does not go unnoticed. 

“A lot of effort goes into the canned food drives,” Parker said.  “The students are so involved and are working hard and I really commend them for that.” 

For more information about the Student Volunteer Connection, visit http://www.studentaffairs.txstate.edu  or call (512) 245-1687.

For more information about the Hays County Area Food Bank, visit http://www.haysfoodbank.org/index.htm  or call (512) 392-8300.