Cans to Candelaria
Our 2007 food drive was a success! We collected a grand total of 7,943 pounds as of October 16, and we also gave the food bank $3,455 (with $1 equal to 6 pounds of food, which means an additional 20,730 pounds of food can be bought). Thanks to everyone who participated! The names of the groups who participated are available here (PDF).
Our next food drive is set for Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008, during UNC’s homecoming week.
For 2008, our goal is loftier. Our key message will be “Show us your cash and cans!” We want to support the Weld Food Bank with not only non-perishable food items during the 2008 fall food drive but also with cash. Rick Cramer, WFB food procurement specialist, says canned food is always appreciated, but in these economic times, cash goes further. For instance, as mentioned above, $1 buys 6 pounds of food or $10 of food, retail. Cash donations allows the food bank to have a bigger buying capacity—and helps pay for the gas and drivers, who bring donated food to WFB from all over the country.
Also, we have a new sponsor this year that will help us get the word out about our drive: 99.9 The Point. We are also encouraging the community to support our campus food drive. All our car dealership sponsors will collect cans and cash at their stores on Oct. 9, allowing community members to easily drop off donations.
Because we are also collecting cash this year, we will not line cans to Candelaria this year; instead, we plan to have two campus drop-off points—one near Candelaria Hall and one on Central campus where food will be weighed and cash will be collected. The competition among campus groups will continue! See the links on the left for additional information on how to become involved.
Cans to Candelaria” Mission Statement:
Our mission is to help feed Weld County’s hungry.
We will accomplish this by the following:
- Heightening individual and community awareness about hunger.
- Creating community involvement (UNC’s students, faculty and staff as well as local businesses) through an organized and accessible food drive—“Cans to Candelaria.”
Our 2008 goals are the following:
- To collect more than 10,000 pounds of food (via non-perishable food and cash donations) for Weld Food Bank.
- To raise awareness about the drive and its benefits to Weld Food Bank.
- To increase both student and community involvement.
