While students at the University of Idaho enjoyed a lengthy winter break, the Student Recreation Center was hard at work organizing its eighth annual food drive.
From Dec. 17 to Jan. 10, Moscow locals were encouraged to bring at least four non-perishable food items in exchange for free access to the center. The donations gave admittance to the entire facility including the climbing wall and Wellness Classes.
“It is a win-win-win situation,” said Brian Mahoney, SRC operations supervisor. “Locals get to use our facilities free of charge, the drive promotes physical wellness, and the community in need benefits from the donations. Students are off campus, leaving the center open to the community.”
Mahoney has managed the food drive for five years. In his first year, the drive collected approximately 600 cans.
“We run the food drive during this time of the year because local food banks are running low on supplies,” Mahoney said. “There are no other drives occurring at this time, as most end before Thanksgiving. Now is the opportune time to replenish the diminished stock from the holiday demand.”
All proceeds benefit the Moscow Food Bank, and Mahoney said it is a tradition for the SRC to surprise food banks with canned goods.
“With the combined donations from various food drives in town, Moscow Food Bank will be able to continue serving 15 to 20 families a day,” said Linda Nichols, director of Moscow Food Bank. “We are never short of food.”
Nichols receives such a magnitude of cans that she typically stores the cans on the shelves and uses monetary donations to purchase other necessities.
Last year, the center received more than 2,000 cans and donated them to the Sojourner’s Alliance. The donations filled a half ton truck. Student employees of the rec center assist Mahoney in counting food items and packing boxes.
Kenton Trautvetter, a UI junior studying exercise and health, is among several students working with Mahoney. Trautvetter worked during winter break gathering cans and answering questions.
“This drive is a great opportunity for community members who have never been inside the rec to try out the various opportunities the center has to offer,” Trautvetter said.
“Access to Wellness Classes was a huge draw for the public. We were able to sell a few memberships as a result of our food drive.” Mahoney said the unusual heat wave slowed guest traffic.
“Moscow residents are out and about taking advantage of the weather,” Mahoney said. “Surprisingly, despite the climate the final count of the cans was 3,113 — far surpassing the expected count of 2,000.”
The Moscow Food Bank will receive the donations at the beginning of next week.