Tennessee’s community colleges and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology have launched the 26th annual Food Drive Challenge, collecting food and cash donations for campus food pantries and local food bank programs serving their communities.
Roane State is participating in the friendly competition as the reigning Tier 1 community college champion, having reported the most donations in its respective category last year.
“These donations help us support students through the holidays and beyond, because we all know food insecurity doesn’t end with the ringing in of a new year,” said Lisa Steffensen, Roane State’s dean of students. “We’re so grateful for the generosity of our campus community.”
Donations of food items are being accepted at the college’s full service campus pantries in Cumberland County, Roane County, Oak Ridge and Morgan County during regular open hours. All items must be collected by Friday, Dec. 6.
Participants can also make monetary donations to Roane State Foundation online by designating their gift for the food pantry. Donors may specify a pantry location or make it a general gift. Every dollar donated counts as two units of food.
TBR’s Food Drive Challenge was conceived in 1999 by the Student Government Presidents Council – student leaders from across the state – as a project to help fellow students and others in their communities in need. Students have kept the food drive going for 26 years, competing with each other in tiers based on enrollment size to see which college can collect the most.
Over the years, more than 1.7 million items and funds converted to items have been collected. During the 2023 campaign, 128,039 items were donated.
“Everyone is a winner in this challenge but the institution with the highest total, per size and category, also wins bragging rights,” said Heidi Leming, TBR vice chancellor for student success and strategic partnerships.
A 2023 report, Food Insecurity and Higher Education, by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission cited a considerable body of research concluding that students experiencing food insecurity are less likely to excel academically and more likely to report stress levels that hinder their ability to focus on their studies.
THEC features a webpage listing food assistance resources, including food banks and food pantries on campuses and in communities across the state. Addressing food insecurity among students is a priority of the 13 community colleges and 24 TCATs comprising the College System of Tennessee and the Tennessee Board of Regents, which governs the system. Any college in the system will connect students to local services when students indicate need.
Donations to the Roane State Food Pantry are appreciated year round. All items are free and available to students from any campus. For more information on this resource, visit roanestate.edu/foodpantry.