By David Harris, Staff Writer
The Wilburn N. Daniel African American Culture Center is holding donations for the Food, Clothing and Hygiene Drive in support of the APSU S.O.S. Food Pantry until Friday, Nov. 8.
The WNDAACC has been holding the drive since Sunday, Oct. 6. For every 10 items donated, donors are given a raffle ticket for a drawing to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Students can win a $50 gift certificate to Governor’s Square Mall, while faculty, staff and community members are entered to win a gift bag.
The Food Pantry requires food such as boxed potatoes, macaroni, mixed fruit, cereal, dry rice, dry beans, soup, canned meat and more. New or used clothing for adults, children and babies is also requested.
“There are two departments in charge of the drive: Student Life and Engagement and the WNDAACC,” said WNDAACC graduate assistant Jorge Jimenez-Cano. “I’m responsible for accountability and marketing [and] advertising, as well as communications with both departments. This semester, we have, so far, very little participation of people who donate items. I hope this will change in the next few days.”
Students, faculty, staff and community members can make donations in the WNDAACC office at Clement 120 Monday and Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m, and Wednesday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The department has been holding food drives since the fall of 2012. From June 3 to July 8, 2013, the center received a total of 1,102 donations, which included 246 food items, 286 hygiene items, and 570 clothing items. Combined with the total from 2012, the drive has brought in 1,858 donations.
“Helping others is good,” Jiminez-Cano said. “It’s a great satisfaction, because a few years ago, I was passing out food and I’m so [grateful] for the help of other people. I think when people donate, they could feel great satisfaction for helping others.”
