Homecoming food drive feeds the community
Each Homecoming Weekend campus erupts into a weeklong flurry of silver and gold as students and alumni converge in Moscow to celebrate the Vandal legacy. However, there is more to Homecoming than football, skits, and parades — UI students are known for their love of volunteering in the community and Homecoming is no exception.
The annual Homecoming food drive is a popular event in the weeklong schedule of spirited activities, and the friendly rivalry between competing Homecoming teams is a heated and celebrated one. Teams are competing for Homecoming points and to win the living group competition.
Mattie Kleist, Homecoming Committee philanthropy co-chair, said the information distribution session for teams competing in the all-community food drive was Monday, where team representatives stopped by a table in front of the Alumni Relations Office to pick up collection-route information as well as flyers and bags to hang on the doors of local homes.
“We have 30 routes set up throughout the Moscow community and each group has about 60 to 80 houses,” she said.
Teams ranging from Greek chapters and residence hall living groups to student clubs came by to lend their hands to help the Moscow community.
While community members had a few days to collect non-perishable food items, bags were picked up Thursday and brought to the Idaho Commons.
“Once the teams drop off the food in the Commons on Thursday night, the food will be going to the St. Mary’s Church here in Moscow as well as to the university food pantry here on campus,” said Mackenzie Dire, Homecoming Committee’s other philanthropy co-chair. “We’re just trying to help out those in need.”
Student-Alumni Program Coordinator Lauren Hamilton said she believes the community becomes extra philanthropic during Homecoming because it’s well advertised and people are already smiling ear-to-ear.
“We have posters up all week that say what we’re doing, which helps keep students informed,” she said. “Also, overall everyone throughout campus and the community is hyped up anyway. Everybody is excited and I think that excitement really plays into the involvement. People want to give back and they want to be excited.”
She said the food drive has been successful because of the community’s willingness to get involved in a great cause.
“A food drive of this scale could not be done without the students on our campus,” Hamilton said. “Their energy makes it a major success.”
Shannon Kelly can be reached at [email protected]