NU Wraps Up 2016 Canned Food Drive in Record-Setting Fashion
12/6/2016 12:31:00 PM | 'Cats Give Back, Academic Services & Student Development, King NU P.R.I.D.E. Program
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (S.A.A.C.) donated a record-setting 7,018 food items through its annual Canned Food Drive, surpassing last-year's record by over 2,000 nonperishable food items.
Through contributions from all 19 of NU's varsity athletic programs and staff as well as fans who attended the women's basketball and men's basketball games on Nov. 13 and 28, respectively, all items were donated to benefit Family Focus of Evanston.
"From the top-down the Northwestern Student-Athlete community has always had a commitment to giving back," said senior S.A.A.C. Co-President Elena Miller. "Not only do we have 100 percent of our athletes participate in community service every year, but the Canned Food Drive is an initiative that brings the entire student-athlete community together to collect non-perishable food items to benefit Family Focus. Each year this event has grown, and student-athletes have been able to directly impact the lives of the families in our community."
Family Focus provides parents and their children with critical resources and learning opportunities to encourage healthy development in their communities. The organization provides parents with training and educational tools to support healthy early childhood development. It also supports children and youth ages 6-18 through enhanced educational opportunities programs to explore science, technology, engineering and math, as well as sports and cultural activities that encourage healthy development, self-confidence and the ability to create positive relationships.
At the basketball games, NU fans combined to donate nearly $1,000. The money was used to purchase additional non-perishable food item. In addition to the participation of all 19 programs and fans, Northwestern staff also donated over 2,000 nonperishable food items to support the cause.
"The canned food drive is arguably one of the most influential opportunities all year for the student-athlete community," said senior S.A.A.C. Co-President and Big Ten S.A.A.C. Representative Matt Harris. "It's a time when we get to work toward being sure that those in the Evanston community have something to be happy about during the holidays."
A number of Northwestern student-athletes came together on Friday, Dec. 2, to deliver the donated items to Family Focus in advance of the holiday season, including senior Matt Hopfner of the NU baseball team.
"The student-athlete canned food drive means a lot to each team because it is a great chance for us to unify as an athletic department and "pay it forward" to the local community," Hopfner said.
Through contributions from all 19 of NU's varsity athletic programs and staff as well as fans who attended the women's basketball and men's basketball games on Nov. 13 and 28, respectively, all items were donated to benefit Family Focus of Evanston.
#NUsaac1617 reps hard at work collecting for the food drive! #catsgiveback #B1Gcats enjoy break & bring any non-perishable food items back! pic.twitter.com/nshGn9hQNv
— NU P.R.I.D.E. (@NU_PRIDE) November 22, 2016
"From the top-down the Northwestern Student-Athlete community has always had a commitment to giving back," said senior S.A.A.C. Co-President Elena Miller. "Not only do we have 100 percent of our athletes participate in community service every year, but the Canned Food Drive is an initiative that brings the entire student-athlete community together to collect non-perishable food items to benefit Family Focus. Each year this event has grown, and student-athletes have been able to directly impact the lives of the families in our community."
Family Focus provides parents and their children with critical resources and learning opportunities to encourage healthy development in their communities. The organization provides parents with training and educational tools to support healthy early childhood development. It also supports children and youth ages 6-18 through enhanced educational opportunities programs to explore science, technology, engineering and math, as well as sports and cultural activities that encourage healthy development, self-confidence and the ability to create positive relationships.
@NUCatsBaseball #NUsaac1617 reps @hopscotch1623 and @J_Hosch34 bringing in a loooooooongggg receipt of their canned food drive items!! ?? pic.twitter.com/k88sJBR20g
— NU P.R.I.D.E. (@NU_PRIDE) December 1, 2016
At the basketball games, NU fans combined to donate nearly $1,000. The money was used to purchase additional non-perishable food item. In addition to the participation of all 19 programs and fans, Northwestern staff also donated over 2,000 nonperishable food items to support the cause.
"The canned food drive is arguably one of the most influential opportunities all year for the student-athlete community," said senior S.A.A.C. Co-President and Big Ten S.A.A.C. Representative Matt Harris. "It's a time when we get to work toward being sure that those in the Evanston community have something to be happy about during the holidays."
Always a rewarding day delivering the results of the S.A.A.C. canned food drive to Family Focus Evanston! #B1GCats #CatsGiveBack pic.twitter.com/HMhJDJjgkY
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) December 2, 2016
A number of Northwestern student-athletes came together on Friday, Dec. 2, to deliver the donated items to Family Focus in advance of the holiday season, including senior Matt Hopfner of the NU baseball team.
"The student-athlete canned food drive means a lot to each team because it is a great chance for us to unify as an athletic department and "pay it forward" to the local community," Hopfner said.
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