Thanksgiving Food Drive Held to Provide Holiday Meals to Families in Need

The Thanksgiving holiday presents an opportunity for people to gather together to celebrate who and what they cherish in their lives. It is a day of gratitude, family, and of course, delicious entrees. However, it is an unfortunate reality that not everyone is able to indulge in a holiday meal with loved ones. In its latest effort to combat food insecurity among UIW students and community members, the UIW School of Professional Studies (SPS) and the Ettling Center of Civic Leadership and Sustainability (ECCLS) collaborated for the month of November to put together a food drive. Together, they collected donations to help UIW families in need this holiday.

"The primary goals of our Thanksgiving food drive were to address food insecurity and promote a sense of community support during the holiday season," shared SPS Academic Advisor Tiara Daniels.

The food drive saw a successful turn out, collecting over 500 canned food items in addition to 150 cans that were held already at the school’s Northwest Nest food closet for students and staff.

In addition to canned food, donors were also encouraged to give other helpful items such as infant supplies including diapers, baby formula and milk bags.

At the conclusion of the food drive, staff members put together 12 bags and 15 baskets of canned food goods with all the donations received. Each bag and basket were then distributed to UIW students for them and their families to enjoy on Thanksgiving.

"One of the most rewarding aspects of the event was witnessing the community's enthusiasm and generosity," Daniels noted. "Seeing our Cardinals come together to support one another and make a positive impact was truly heartwarming."

In addition to the drive being an example of the community's compassion, it also brought awareness about some of the challenges others face during the holidays. "This drive really opened our eyes to the needs of our community as well as the empathetic and giving nature of the students. We are grateful for the support we have received and are looking forward to continuing to serve the community and UIW's Mission."

With Christmas and other holidays being celebrated soon, another food drive will be hosted during December through mid-January. Daniels hopes that the next drive will be even more successful than the last so that more families in need can experience the joy of the holiday season.

The upcoming food drive will be held from December 1 though January 12. Donations can be dropped off at the UIW SPS Northwest Center (9729 Datapoint Drive, Suite 100).