The St. Joseph’s University, New York community emphasizes the importance of service during the holiday season, establishing a plethora of opportunities for students, faculty and staff to give to those in need with Thanksgiving food drives this year.
Offices and student-run organizations alike are collecting nonperishable items, to ensure others are enjoying a festive Thanksgiving meal.
“I find that each year, we have an opportunity to recalibrate our hearts through acts of service and giving,” Cristian Murphy ’14, director of Campus Ministry at the Long Island Campus, has said. “It is through initiatives like this food drive that we can be reminded of the fact that we are not alone in this world.”
Brooklyn Campus’ Food for Thought Pantry Collection
Campus Ministry Food Drive: This year, the Brooklyn Campus Ministry expanded its approach to its annual Thanksgiving food drive. Rather than collecting just for Thanksgiving, they have conducted an ongoing collection for the St. Joseph’s Food for Thought Pantry, which benefits the University’s very own students.
“We are doing this so that we can supply students with food for the holidays and beyond,” said Dr. Vernon Shelton, Sr., director of campus ministry at the Brooklyn Campus. “We are reaching out to students and making sure we provide students a basket for the holiday, but we are also trying to make sure we help with the food insecurity they may face in the future.”
Individuals or groups looking to donate items to help the cause can drop them off at the Campus Ministry office in Tuohy Hall, Room 205. Any students in need of assistance can email Dr. Vernon at bk.campusministry@sjny.edu, and Campus Ministry will make sure they have a festive Thanksgiving as well as receive future assistance.
Click here for the complete list of items being collected for the Food for Though Pantry.
Long Island Campus’ Thanksgiving Food Drives
Circle K Food Drive: Circle K asked students, faculty and staff to bring in any kind of nonperishable food item they’d like to eat on Thanksgiving. They then made Thanksgiving baskets on Nov. 7 for a local soup kitchen.
Theta Phi Alpha Day of Service: St. Joseph’s members of the Theta Phi Alpha national women’s fraternity gathered Nov. 12 for a day of service, where they filled many boxes with boxed and canned goods to give to locals in need for Thanksgiving.
SGA’s Thanksgiving food drive.
SGA Food Drive: SGA collected nonperishable food items for their service project meeting on Nov. 14, with all the student-run clubs and organizations coming together to collect items; the Eaglettes alone collected more than 800 food items for the drive. Bags were made and delivered to the Patchogue Neighbors Soup Kitchen at St. Francis DeSales Church.
Sigma Tau Delta Food Drive: Those who haven’t had a chance to donate yet on the Long Island Campus can still contribute to the Sigma Tau Delta food drive going on through Monday, Nov. 21. Food can be dropped off in the English department or at the appropriate box in the O’Connor Hall student lounge.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Volleyball Tournament: The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosts their annual volleyball tournament on Monday, Nov. 21, during Common Hour. The price of admission is one nonperishable food item. Those interested in competing can create a team of six and apply here.
Campus Ministry Food Drive: The Long Island Campus Ministry is hosting its annual food drive, collecting items in a box outside their office (Suite 4 in the Student Hospitality Lounge) now through Monday, Nov. 21. Those interested can help by contributing a gift card for turkey, canned vegetables, boxed pasta and jars of sauce, rice, boxed mashed potatoes, canned fruit, stuffing, jars of gravy, boxed dessert mix and bottles of juice.
