SEC Schools Compete to Feed the Hungry
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2015) — Tennessee beat Kentucky last year by more than 2,600 pounds. In fact, four SEC universities trounced Kentucky by a total of 7,833 pounds...of canned food earmarked for donation to worthy organizations in the universities’ hometowns.
The Big Blue Nation is not willing to let those numbers stand in the SEC Game Winning Food Drive, which this year includes University of Kentucky, University of Tennessee, University of Alabama, University of Florida, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and University of Missouri.
Provost Tim Tracy kicked off UK’s donations last week with cans of soup he brought from home to assure “a complete meal for someone who needs it,” he said. The SEC drive for donated canned food continues through November.
“We know we can do better than (the 108 cans of food donated) last year for our students, for our Big Blue Pantry,” said Courtney Pflug. The Big Blue Pantry, a students’ food bank recently relocated from Alumni Gym to the basement of the White Hall Classroom Building, is the chosen recipient of all proceeds from UK’s Game Winning Food Drive. Some schools have chosen civic instead of campus food banks.
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About 200 individual students use the Big Blue Pantry regularly, with more joining every week. Any type of nonperishable food items are accepted, but the most needed items are canned meat, cereal, canned fruit and vegetables, peanut butter, and pre-made meals.
Created in 2013 by the campus recreation departments at the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee, the 2014 Game Winning Food Drive included UK, UT, the University of Alabama, the University of Arkansas and Mississippi State University. The five SEC campus recreation departments collected a total of 9,275 cans of food for their communities, providing an estimated 6,600 meals.
Results of the 2014 SEC Game Winning Food Drive:
Rank School Cans Donated
1 Tennessee 3,245
2 Alabama 3,015
3 Arkansas 1,759
4 Mississippi State 1,148
5 Kentucky 108
“UK Wildcats don’t like being at the bottom of any SEC ranking, especially if it involves the health and welfare of our students,” said Pflug. “Big Blue Pantry was created to serve UK students who are experiencing hunger or food insecurity. We want to make sure there are no empty shelves in our students’ pantries.”
UK will collect canned goods for the third annual SEC food drive through Nov. 30. Individuals or groups can donate nonperishable canned food in collection bins at the following locations:
· The Johnson Center
· Patterson Office Tower
· University Health Services Building
As they are inclined to do, UK Wildcats are turning the campuswide effort into individual and group competitions. UK Campus Recreation is challenging students to bring a canned food item when they work out. Even if only half of those using the Johnson Center remembered, as many as 1,000 cans could be gathered in a single day. Other groups on campus are joining the challenge, including Greek intramural teams, with the winning team receiving 25 Greek points, and a student fitness group, whose members will receive a free T-shirt for donating five or more cans. A few campus departments are challenging each other to generously donate as well. For groups collecting very large amounts of food, arrangements can be made for pick-up on a limited basis by contacting Campus Recreation at capflu2@uky.edu.
While they will not count toward the food drive final totals, toiletries and paper products are greatly needed by the students who regularly stop by the Big Blue Pantry, pantry managers added.
Big Blue Pantry is part of the UK Center for Community Outreach, which seeks to serve, connect and unite the University of Kentucky with the surrounding community in collaborative efforts to promote life-long service.
MEDIA CONTACT: Gail Hairston, 859-257-3302, gail.hairston@uky.edu
