Donations sought for third annual canned food drive

The third annual Radford Gives Back food drive is scheduled for Oct. 16-17.

The campuswide effort resulted in the collection of more than 15,000 food items last year. The drive helps replenish the Bobcat Backpacks Program, a local nonprofit organization that provides more than 175 Radford City children with food to eat on the weekends.

Donations will be accepted at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center Multipurpose Activity Court (MAC) on Oct. 16 from noon to 8 p.m. and on Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Donations should be delivered to the side door of the MAC, at which parking and unloading access will be allowed.

The drive will culminate on Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. on the MAC where the entire campus community is invited to gather for a short program and pack 300 weekend food bags. Dr. Marisela Rosas Hemphill, the wife of Radford University President Brian O. Hemphill, will be the keynote speaker.

Suggested food items are:

• Canned chunky soup
• Canned ravioli
• Canned beans
• Canned vegetables
• Canned fruit
• Macaroni and cheese
• Applesauce (individual cups)
• Popcorn
• Oatmeal (boxes of individual packets)
• Peanut butter (small jars)

Monetary donations may be made to Radford City Schools: Partners for Excellence Foundation with “Bobcat Backpacks” in the memo. P.O. Box 355, Radford, VA, 24143. Online donations: gofundme.com/BobcatBackpacks. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information, contact Lee Stewart at lstewart@radford.edu or Teresa Dickens at tdickens2@radford.edu.