Student Life’s annual food drive is being held from Oct. 26-Nov. 16, in which campus clubs compete to bring in the most donations for Kirkwood Community College’s food pantry.
Hawkeye Area Community Action program director Aaron Brecht has a saying that resonated with Jacob Zirkelbach, resource and engagement supervisor and food pantry supervisor. “Brecht often says that there’s no one way to give,” said Zirkelbach. “You can either give your time, your talent or your treasure. This is true for Kirkwood’s food drive as well.”
There are prizes for first, second, third place as well as an honorable mention with those prizes being $200, $150, $100 and $50. Donations can be brought to the Student Life office in Iowa Hall, suite 2026. Students will be asked from which club the donation is brought.
Any Kirkwood-affiliated club may participate. Each item a student brings in grants their club one point. If a student is in multiple clubs, they will be asked to either pick one club or split the items in the donation between clubs. Students are also able to donate without being in a club.
“Convenience is a luxury for people,” said Zirkelbach, noting that some of the most helpful items they’ve received are the things that are meals by themselves.
With students going to the food pantry in record numbers, even small donations make a difference.
“We grew some really hot peppers in the garden this year. They’re just little things, but they go so far,” recounted Zirkelbach. “People can make sauces out of them and spice up dinners worth of food out of just one pepper.”
As Brecht said, food is more than just calories or fuel; it’s a community thing, a feel-good thing, a mental health thing.
The food drive is centered on food. However, Emily Grace, Student Life coordinator, said they will “definitely not say no by any means” for other donations, allowing them to count toward a club’s total. Plastic bags are also appreciated for students to take home groceries.
“Usually, the best way to donate is to just donate what you can,” said Zirkelbach. “You’ll feel good about it, no matter what, and it will be appreciated, no matter what.”
While students can donate without being in a club, supporting Kirkwood’s food pantry isn’t the only goal of the food drive.
“Anything we give to the food pantry is great,” said Grace. “Wholeheartedly, a student’s experience at Kirkwood, on campus, is getting involved and building that community.”
Students who are not currently part of a club can check out www.kirkwood.edu/clubs.
“If there’s a student questioning whether they should join a club or not, they should,” Grace added.
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