ISSUED: 27 October 2017
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Students at Shepherd University collected 2,840 pounds of food for the Jefferson County Community Ministries food pantry during its second annual Homecoming food drive competition sponsored by the Homecoming Committee.
Rachael Meads, director of student activities and leadership who advises the student Homecoming committee, said this was more than 1,000 pounds more non-perishable food than was generated during the previous year’s drive.
“Our goal was to exceed 2,000 pounds of food for local families in need, and the students embraced the challenge and exceeded that goal,” Meads said.
John Cloyd, of Jefferson County Community Ministries, who received the donations from Shepherd, said that this donation came at just the right time. During the holidays, many people choose to donate. However, in other times of the year, stock for the food pantry can become low. 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 donated the most food was Sigma Sigma Sigma social sorority, donating more than 800 pounds of food. Other organizations that participated included Lambda Chi Alpha, Theta Xi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Tau 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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