The campus community is invited to collect food donations to join Alamance County's "Feeding the Hungry" effort.
The recent closing of the local Loaves and Fishes food pantry is prompting a community effort to restore programs that feed hungry families and individuals in the area. According to Tammy Cobb, Elon’s assistant director for community partnerships, Allied Churches of Alamance County and the local chapter of the Salvation Army are expanding their feeding services to meet a critical need.
The two organizations are partnering to provide a food pantry and to expand the service of hot meals.
“Now is the time to collect food and to plan future pantry item drives,” Cobb says. “We know that donations typically drop-off after the Holidays, so we need to build up stockpiles of non-perishable food for Allied Churches and the Salvation Army to support the increased demands for service. That’s where we need Elon’s help.”
Cobb says the university’s food drive efforts will be coordinated by Steve Caldwell, the coordinator of Campus Kitchen, a program of Elon’s Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement. Students, faculty and staff who wish to organize a food drive should contact Caldwell at scaldwell6@elon.edu.
The Kernodle Center has also opened a location in the Moseley Center where students, faculty, and staff can drop off non-perishable food items. These items will be delivered to Allied Churches and the Salvation Army to support their ongoing efforts. Non-perishable food donations can be dropped off at Moseley 230.
Students who wish to volunteer their time can also work through the Kernodle Center. Cash donations to support Allied Churches and Salvation Army can be directed to the United Way of Alamance County, designated for the “Feeding the Hungry” campaign.
Cobb says Allied Churches and the Salvation Army are committed to long-term efforts to feed the hungry in Alamance County, and the United Way provides strong fiscal oversight and management of donations.