Cumberlands kicks off annual food drive

University of the Cumberlands cares about many things, and providing food for local families is one of them. With rising costs across every type of basic need, families face tough choices and impossible decisions. Food insecurity is ever-growing. Local food programs for families, children, and people without homes are desperately in need of more supplies, particularly with holidays approaching.

Cumberlands' annual food drive kicks off November 13 – 20. In other words, a week's worth of excitement, generosity, and literally tons of food is just around the corner!

The annual food drive supplies First Baptist Church of Williamsburg Food Pantry, Williamsburg Family Resource Center, First Baptist Church Backpack Program, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Food Pantry, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Food Pantry, Shiner Church of Christ Food Pantry, and Emergency Christian Ministry Homeless Shelter.

All members of the Williamsburg community and Cumberlands faculty, staff, students, alumni, and corporate partners who want to provide a family with much-needed food may donate non-perishable food items or monetary gifts to the cause.

Monetary gifts are often the most impactful to the food drive because they allow Cumberlands to fill specific unmet needs that may be more expensive than other items. Additionally, it allows the school to purchase items in bulk through local grocery distributors – which is often cheaper per food item, thus providing even more food for local families.

For those who prefer to donate food, each day of the food drive will be themed to encourage gifts of the food banks’ most desired food items. These items are based on feedback from local food pantries about their specific needs. But the theme of the day is merely a guide; all food items will be received anytime, regardless of the food-group-focused schedule.

• MONDAY: Kids' food items, such as fruit pouches, Chef Boyardee meals, easy-to-microwave meals, easy-to-open meals, etc.
• TUESDAY: Protein and beans. Beans can be dry or canned.
• WEDNESDAY: Hygiene and laundry items.
• THURSDAY: All things pasta! Noodles and pasta sauces are welcome.
• FRIDAY: Canned fruits and vegetables.

All food donations can be dropped off in the Office of Student Affairs at Cumberlands, located in the top level (Grill level) of the Boswell Campus Center, across the street from the O. Wayne Rollins Center (gymnasium).

Monetary donations can be mailed to The Office of Student Affairs, 6197 College Station Drive, Williamsburg, Kentucky, 40769 or here: https://www.ucumberlands.edu/student-life/community-service/annual-food-drive.

Weekly, from the first day of fall classes, UC student volunteers serve each of the seven programs our food drive supplies. Students care for these programs and their customers by stocking shelves, filling family food bags, inventorying items, filling backpacks, and carrying food to cars for families and elderly neighbors. From the food drive to their weekly service projects, this is a full-circle learning experience for students.

The past two annual Cumberlands food drives collected nearly 60,000 pounds of food in total for local families.

Some families and elderly are uncertain about where and when their next meal will come. The university asks all members of the community and campus to consider providing a family with food this holiday season!