For the Media
Press Release
Contact: Alana Cline
Associate professor
University of Northern Colorado
(970) 351-1783
Alana.cline@unco.edu
Student Dietetic Association plans for sixth annual campus-wide food drive
Drive will include collection of cash and cans
GREELEY, July 25, 2011 --- The sixth annual University of Northern Colorado campus-wide food drive “Cans to Candelaria” will again seek non-perishable food and cash this fall from campus groups and the Greeley-area community.
The food drive on Sept. 22 benefits Weld Food Bank in Greeley. Each dollar donated is worth 6 pounds of food, said Scott Westfall, food procurement specialist of Weld Food Bank.
“We appreciate the cans, of course,” Westfall said this spring, “but with energy and food costs today, cash helps us more right now.” One dollar buys $10 of food at retail, therefore, increasing the food bank’s buying capacity. Money is also needed to pay for transportation to bring donated food to Greeley from places throughout the country.
The UNC senior-level public relations class helped organize the food drive, which will be taken over by UNC’s Student Dietetic Association this school year. In 2006, PR students created a plan for a fall campus-wide food drive to benefit the food bank, and it has been held every fall since then.
While all food items are appreciated, some are in higher demand than others. Westfall said canned meat or tuna, canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups and stews, pasta and peanut butter as well as juices—boxed or jarred—are items the food bank would like to see donated.
The journalism students held the first drive during the 2006-2007 school year, collecting almost 4,000 pounds of food. The second annual drive during the 2007-2008 school year raised almost 8,000 pounds of food and more than $3,000. In the 2008-2009 school year, the third annual drive raised nearly 28,000 pounds of food in cash and cans. 2009-2010 school year, the fourth annual drive raised close to 60,000 pounds of food in cash and cans, setting a new record. The fifth annual drive raised close to 60,000 pounds again.
Students now have plans in place for the sixth annual campus-wide drive, which will end Sept. 22 when donated cans and cash from UNC groups and the Greeley-area community will be collected. This school year, the students’ goal is to collect at least 70,000 pounds worth of non-perishable food and cash.
Registration forms and information about challenging other groups or organizing a food drive are available by writing canstocandelaria@hotmail.com or visiting www.unco.edu/canstocandelaria.
The Weld Food Bank donated a trophy in 2006 to be presented to the winning UNC group or organization at the conclusion of each food drive. Groups that want to participate in the competition must register by Sept. 19. The collection point for campus groups on Sept. 22 will be located in the parking lot west of Candelaria Hall. Community members are welcome to help, too, by dropping off donations.
Main sponsors of the 2011 event include 99.9 The Point radio station and local automobile dealerships Ghent Motors and Weld County Garage.
For more information about the food drive, contact Dr. Alana Cline, SDA adviser, by phone at (970) 351-1783 or by e-mail at canstocandelaria@hotmail.com. For more information about the food bank, contact Westfall at (970) 356-2199 (Ext. 306) or scott@weldfoodbank.org.