Organizers of a summer drive to stock the Green and Gold Cupboard at Arkansas Tech University are hoping to finish strong during the final week of the event.
Since beginning on July 17, the drive has collected more than 2,000 items and 1,200 pounds of food. In addition, members of the ATU community have donated $685 in cash to support the cupboard.
Multiple departments and offices across campus are competing to give the most during the drive, which will conclude on Friday, Aug. 18. Competition updates and more information are available at www.atu.edu/foodpantry.
Green and Gold Cupboard Board of Directors members Dr. Sean Huss, Dr. James Stobaugh, Lindelle Fraser and Angela Black are coordinating the summer drive to stock the shelves.
“The lion’s share of donations this summer have come from other staff members who remember what’s it like to be in need,” said Huss. “They also have seen the need in the students they serve and the other staff with whom they work. This is a phenomenal start, but Tech can do better. Our goal is to reach one ton of donations by Aug. 18. Help us reach our goal by supporting your team. We all win when you give.”
Forty members of the ATU marching band, Arkansas’ Band of Distinction, gave of their time on Tuesday, Aug. 15, to work at the Green and Gold Cupboard, which is located at 1019 N. Arkansas Ave. in Russellville. Registered student organization Because We Can is leading the effort to bring the resource to ATU.
“To part of something that’s bigger than we are…we love being part of that and putting our efforts into that,” said Alex Smith, a junior from Rogers and one of the ATU marching band members who volunteered at the Green and Gold Cupboard on Tuesday. “I think it’s because of the sense of family we have together in band. We’re all united by the same thing, and together we want to have the same goal.”
Those goals during the volunteer effort included stocking shelves, moving furniture, cleaning floors and washing windows.
All of it helped the Green and Gold Cupboard prepare to serve the ATU community when it opens in September.
“The Green and Gold Cupboard will offer non-perishable food to any member of the campus community who needs it,” said Huss. “Not only will it help feed Tech, it will provide a powerful teaching tool for students learning about food insecurity in their own backyard. In time, it is our hope that this will help alleviate the stigma of hunger on campus, create opportunities for students to help their fellow classmates and unite all members of Tech in the common goal to help its own.”
