Sodexo’s annual food drive is underway
Sodexo’s annual Help Neighbors in Need Food Drive is already underway and will continue until Nov. 15.
The purpose of the food drive is to “try to get supplies and food for people in the community and give back because the holidays can be a tough time for people,” Duke Davis, district manager of Sodexo, said.
Throughout the food drive, Sodexo works with Blue Ridge Area Food Bank to collect as many pounds of food as possible.
“However many pounds are collected, Sodexo will match that amount and donate it on top of what has been collected,” Davis said.
COVID-19 made the food drive donations drop in previous years due to lack of participation, but Davis is hopeful that as time moves forward, donation numbers will increase.
“Now that we’ve turned the page on quarantine, we can get back up to the level of previous years before COVID,” Davis said.
Donating to the Help Neighbors in Need Food Drive can help many people who are struggling, including senior citizens, who are the fastest growing group of people who depend on charitable food assistance.
Senior citizens aren’t the only ones struggling, as one in 10 children in the BRAFB service area live with food insecurity, unsure of where their next meal will come from.
That’s why initiatives like the Help Neighbors in Need Food Drive step in to help.
After the food donated by students is collected, it goes to the BRAFB to be distributed to Lynchburg and the surrounding areas.
The BRAFB serves an average of 115,390 people each month, providing nearly 23 million meals or more than 27.8 million pounds of food each year.
The Lynchburg branch alone serves approximately 21,890 people each month.
Students can drop off their donations at a variety of on-campus locations, including the School of Behavioral Sciences Room in DeMoss Hall 3046, the School of Nursing in DeMoss Hall 2142, CASAS in DeMoss Hall 1100, the Jerry Falwell Library Customer Service Center, The Graduate School in Green Hall 2846, the School of Education in DeMoss Hall 1314, the School of Aeronautics in DeMoss Hall 2330, the College of Medicine at the Center for Medical and Health Sciences 2002, the School of Business lobby and the Food Court at Reber-Thomas entrance.
Most needed items include canned items such as canned tuna, canned vegetables and fruits, evaporated or powdered milk, stews, chili and canned soups. Other items needed include chicken, beans and nuts, peanut butter or almond butter, boxed pasta and rice, low-sugar cereal, whole grain, boxed mac and cheese, baby food and formula, as well as hygiene products such as diapers, toothbrushes, soap and feminine products.
Perez is a news reporter for the Liberty Champion