ISSUED: 3 December 2018
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Students at Shepherd University are wrapping up the semester having participated in two large philanthropy projects during Homecoming Spirit Week to benefit two community organizations, the Jefferson County Community Ministries (JCCM) food pantry and the Berkeley County Humane Society.
Rachael Meads, assistant director of student engagement, who advises the student Homecoming committee, said this year’s Homecoming chair Alyssa Roush wanted to incorporate strong components of philanthropy to give back to the local community.
Roush introduced a new philanthropic component into this year’s spirit competition, a penny war to benefit the Berkeley County Humane Society. More than 19 student groups participated, raising more than $2,300.
Meads said the annual food drive for the JCCM food pantry also proved successful.
“Our goal was to exceed 2,000 pounds of food for local families in need,” Meads said. “The students embraced the challenge and exceeded that goal.”
JCCM provides short-term emergency services and transitional services to Jefferson County residents in need, as well as life skills training and support. Twelve student organizations participated in the drive. The group that collected the most food was Sigma Sigma Sigma social sorority, donating more than 800 pounds. Other organizations that participated included Lambda Chi Alpha, Theta Xi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Tau social fraternities, Alpha Sigma Tau and Delta Zeta social sororities, Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota women’s music fraternity, the Black Student Union, and the Student Nurses Association.
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