CLARKSVILLE — The University of the Ozarks’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee recently collected and delivered canned goods to a local charity as part of the year-long American Southwest Conference’s Make A Change Canned Food drive.
U of O’s student led organization combined with the Student Life Office and Athletics Department to surpass their goal of 500 by collecting 700 cans of food to go to the Interfaith Service Network. The Interfaith Service Network is a support system for those in need within the Clarksville community, with 14 area churches assisting in the operation of the food pantry. Char Wofford of Interfaith assisted the U of O student-athletes on the day the canned food was delivered.
The ASC’s Make A Change Canned Food Collection is aimed at providing support for food pantry operations within the community of each conference member. The canned food collection project got underway in the fall semester and will continue through the end of NCAA Division III Week, April 7-13. Each of the ASC’s SAAC organizations are involved in determining the local agency or agencies they will provide the canned food collected at athletics and other events over the course of the 2013-14 school year. The SAAC organization collecting the highest number of canned food items on its own or as a joint project with other campus groups will be recognized by the ASC in late April.
“I am truly honored to lead one of the many conference SAAC groups and help with the annual Make A Change event,” said U of O SAAC President Whitney Lewis. “Every year, our group does its best to provide for those in need within our local community. We can do our part to assist those who come in contact with Interfaith Service Network. Interfaith does an outstanding job of providing those in need in terms of nourishment. Everyone in Ozarks’ SAAC contributed their share in making this tradition a success, and I couldn’t be more proud of our members.”
Each SAAC group within the ASC has conducted Make A Change campaigns over the past seven years. Since the 2006-07 year, the ASC has collectively donated over $56,689 in its loose coin drive to over 25 organizations. In 2013-14, the conference SAAC chose to redirect the Make A Change campaign efforts and assist with providing canned food items to local food pantry outlets.
Fans can track the Make A Change Canned Food Collection activities on the ASC campuses by following the ASC on Twitter (@ASC_sports) with the Twitter hashtag, #ASCMakeAChange.
Read more: The Courier – Your Messenger for the River Valley – Ozarks athletes assist Clarksville Interfaith Service Network
Source: http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/24706281/article-Ozarks-athletes-assist-Clarksville-Interfaith-Service-Network
