Pellissippi State Community College collected more items for its food pantry than any other community college or technical college in Tennessee for the fourth consecutive year.
Pellissippi State collected the equivalent of 47,788 items in the Tennessee Board of Regents Annual Food Drive Challenge that ended this month. This almost doubled the 24,826 items collected by Pellissippi State last year.
Each dollar donated counted for two food items in the competition, and Pellissippi State raised $20,110.89 for the Pellissippi Pantry through its Giving Tuesday campaign and donors who provided matching funds.
“The results of this effort are such an inspiration,” said Anna Graham, director of annual giving and scholarships for Pellissippi State. “In especially challenging times for so many, the generosity of our own Pellissippi State family, joining together with community partners, to raise both funds and canned food items to meet the needs of those who utilize the Pellissippi Pantry is tremendous! We are grateful and thankful for this support that will make a deep impact on our ability to serve our students.”
TBR’s colleges of applied technology and community colleges collected a total of 148,578 items for campus food pantries as well as local organizations, programs and food banks in their communities.
In addition to the food items and monetary donations collected, Pellissippi State collected 228 toiletry and baby care items. All items stay right here in the college’s Pellissippi Pantry, which serves students and employees who are facing food insecurity.
“Pellissippi State may have won this friendly competition, but the real winners are our students and employees who may find themselves in need of our Pantry services,” said Travis Loveday, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students for Pellissippi State. “As a result of our community support, we are better able to meet this basic need so students and employees can stay focused on their long-term success.”
The Pellissippi Pantry moved this semester into a new, larger space that allows participants to choose their own items from the shelves, rather than having food pre-packed for them by volunteers. Participants are assigned points based on their household size and can choose how to use those points on the items available in the new walk-in pantry.
“The Pantry expansion has allowed Pellissippi State additional space to collect and distribute food and self-care items,” said Aneisa Rolen, executive director of the Pellissippi State Foundation. “We celebrate this TBR food drive win with the merchandise team at the Pilot Company and Akima volunteers. With their ongoing support, the College will allocate these resources to all five campuses.”
Lesli Bales-Sherrod does marketing and writing for Pellissippi State Community College.
