Contributed/ETSU

The holidays are upon us, and ETSU’s Staff Senate and SGA are partnering with Bucky’s Food Pantry to hold their annual Season of Sharing Holiday Food Drive to support students, faculty and staff in need of food for the upcoming holidays.

The organizations began to accept donations of food items such as canned green beans, canned corn, canned peas, canned sweet potatoes, stuffing mix, cake mix, icing and instant potatoes on Oct. 20 and will continue until Nov. 14. Donation boxes are located in buildings throughout campus at the VA Campus at Stanton Gerber Hall. Monetary donations in cash or check are also appreciated and encouraged at the cashier windows in Burgin-Dossett Hall. The donated items will be used to assemble a holiday basket with festive food items and a grocery store gift card for those who request one.

Those who know someone or are in need of a food basket from the pantry can fill out the confidential form on the food drive flyers to request one. Baskets will be available to be picked up at Bucky’s Pantry located in the D.P. Culp Student Center on Nov. 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Staff Senate Vice President Kari Albarado expressed their mission to combat food insecurity and hunger on campus: “Food insecurity is something many people within our ETSU community face, and we want to make sure people know Bucky’s is a resource for them.”

The pantry emphasizes the confidentiality of requests and the distribution of food items to ensure the safety and comfort of community members in need.

This year, the Holiday Food Drive is aiming to stretch into the holidays beyond Thanksgiving. Even as ETSU closes for winter break, Bucky’s Pantry will be open Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 for community members to access for both Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

“It’s really important in December and as we head towards winter break that folks have accessibility to get items that they need,” Albarado said. ETSU’s dedicated Staff Senate and SGA will be continuing to support Bucky’s Pantry to stretch their support even further this year.

Author