Psy.D. students to hold food drive for local children in need

School's Out Lunch Delivery (SOLD), a program run by Radford University Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.) students, is hosting a food drive to benefit the community’s underserved children.

Shoppers and visitors at Kroger in Fairlawn, Virginia, are encouraged to stop by the drive on July 18, between 9 a.m. and noon, and help the students attempt to "stuff the orange car" with food that will help feed Radford children who would normally qualify for free or reduced lunch when school is in session.

The SOLD crew will collect non-perishable goods and monetary donations from supporters.

This is the program’s fifth year. It has been popular among successive cohorts of Psy.D. students because it allows them to engage with the community in a meaningful way.

"Social justice is a part of our program," said Sarah Abercrombie, a doctoral student and project coordinator. "We're really passionate about developing, training and counseling psychologists."

A desire to "practice what you preach" led to the formation of SOLD five years ago. The free or reduced lunch program is a key factor in the well-being of many students.

In 2013, 42 percent of students in Radford City Schools benefited from the program. During the summer, however, these meals are lost for months. SOLD student-volunteers stepped in to fix that problem.

Doctoral student Stirling Barfield has delivered food for SOLD for three summers and has seen first hand what the program means to some Radford families. One mother told Barfield that without the program she would not be able to feed her family over the summer.

For more information about SOLD, the food drive or ways to contribute, contact Sarah Abercrombie at 540-570-0965 or SOLDRadford@gmail.com.