APSU’s TRiO Student Support Services program collected 289 items for their food drive lasting from Monday, Feb. 15, through Tuesday, Feb. 23.

The donated food will be given to APSU students in need of assistance.

Joy Pigott, administrative assistant for TRiO, said she is very passionate about this event.

“I think that it is important to donate because this food drive is going to help feed the students of APSU who have come upon hard times,” Pigott said. “As someone who is always donating to great causes, I think that it is great to be able to donate so near to home and to know that by donating even just one can of food, an APSU student will benefit from something that I was a part of.”

APSU celebrates national TRiO day every year on February 23. This year TRiO decided to do a service for their community while informing people about who they are as an organization.

“Our assistant director and tutor coordinator came up with the idea of doing a food drive to help out the SOS Food Pantry by collecting food that in turn would be handed out to APSU students who have come upon hard times,” Pigott said.

The drop off locations for the drive were located in the Wilbur N. Daniel African American Cultural Center, the Academic Support Center, the Office of Disability Services, the Hispanic Cultural Center, Tri-County Upward Bound, the Felix G. Woodward Library and TRiO Student Support Services.

Anyone that is unable to donate during the drive is encouraged to do so on his or her own time. The SOS Food Pantry is located at 322 Home Ave, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations are accepted during their operation hours but other drop off times can be scheduled by calling (931) 221-6120.