Penn State Behrend is holding their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive this year that will run from Monday, October 23, to Wednesday, November 15, 2017. Chris Fox, who is the Assistant Director of Civic Engagement & The Smith Chapel, Jan Haring, the Chapel Staff Assistant, and Will Taylor with AmeriCorps VISTA, are running the food drive for this school year.

​

The Thanksgiving Food Drive started four years ago, and it’s a campus-wide event where faculty, staff, and students can donate different food items that, at the conclusion of the drive, will be given to the Second Harvest Food Bank the week before the Thanksgiving holiday. According to Fox and his partners, 120 bags of goods were collected in last year's food drive that amounted, in total, to 1,368 pounds of food.

​

In terms of who can donate, all who feel called are welcome to donate as much or as little as possible. Fox, Haring, and Taylor have created bags for faculty, staff, and students so that they can fill them with the following list items: one box of quick bread, dessert mix, or JELLO, one can of corn, one can of cranberry sauce, one can of peaches, one can of green beans, one can of sweet potatoes, one box of instant potatoes, one box of instant stuffing, and one jar of turkey gravy. These bags are located in the Smith Chapel, or upon request, can be delivered. Bags will be available for pick-up on Monday, October 30.

​

If students wish to participate during this three-week-long donation period, the easiest and best way to help is to spread the word about the drive. Additionally, there is a meeting on October 26 at 3:30 p.m. in the Smith Chapel where students can receive more information on the food drive. If unable to attend, students are welcomed to stop by the Smith Chapel between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to pick up a bag to fill. All groups and organizations are welcome to grab as many bags as they choose.

​

Thanksgiving Food Drive items should be dropped off at the Smith Chapel by Tuesday, November 14. Otherwise, all items will need to be brought to Dinner for Six in the McGarvey Commons on Wednesday, November 15 at 5:30 p.m.

​

For more information on this drive, faculty and students can call the Smith Chapel at (814) 898-6609, or send an email to psbservice@psu.edu.