Nov. 16, 2015
Abbie Stillman
[email protected]
Clyde’s Cupboard hopes canned food and other items will fly into donation boxes around campus as they hold their second annual “Battle of the Departments.”
Different departments will compete to raise the most donated items. Clyde’s Cupboard is also holding its traditional Thanksgiving basket drawing. This year, “Battle of the Departments” is hosted by a health care sciences class.
“This is the second year we are doing ‘Battle of the Departments.’ It went so well last year, they decided to do it again this year,” said senior health care science major Taylor Lowe.
Lowe said last year they received well beyond their goal for donated items.
There are 22 participating departments that include Academic Advising, Admission and Records, the Athletic Department, the bookstore and more.
An email is sent to all the participating departments three weeks prior to the beginning of the battle to prepare. They RSVP via email and receive handmade boxes for the donations.
Lowe said they made around 30 donation boxes this year, because several departments requested two or more donation boxes.
The department that donates the most food and toiletries wins. The winning department receives a catered breakfast from Dining and Food Services.
Departments can also participate last minute and still win the battle. Financial Aid won last year and they didn’t sign up until the last day, according to Lowe.
Lowe asked that people avoid donating Top Ramen because they have too much of it.
“If you are going to donate, we need items such as peanut butter, canned fruits, breakfast items like cereal, Nutri-Grain (Ed 11/16) bars, breakfast bars and oatmeal.”
She added that donated items should not be expired.
2,500 items have been donated so far, said Lowe. The goal is to reach 4,000 items.
“We really want to raise awareness that Clyde’s [Cupboard] need donations year round, get out knowledge about Clyde’s Cupboard and what they do,” Lowe said.
Next year the food drive will be passed on to another class.
Clyde’s Cupboard is also preparing a Thanksgiving basket. Volunteers prepare the basket, which contains ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving feast such as turkey, gravy, stuffing and more.
Each time a student visits Clyde’s Cupboard, they can put their name into a basket and then a name is drawn for the winner of the Thanksgiving basket, said Nicole Brown, Clyde’s Cupboard president.