The process is simple.
In the late afternoon in early October for the past decade, Radford University volunteers have gathered in a large campus space, slipped on new T-shirts – this year it was gray with blue letters – secured white plastic bags and walked table to table collecting food items.
Once their bags are filled with cans of ravioli, jars of peanut butter, boxes of mac and cheese, popcorn bags, oatmeal packets, snacks and cans of fruit and veggies, volunteers place the bags on the large R and U logo at center court.
“It’s so simple and easy to give such a little bit of your time to make such a tremendous contribution,” said student volunteer Katherine Hudson, a junior from Blacksburg, Virginia.
This is Radford Gives Back.
It’s an event that has been happening on campus for nearly 10 years now, with the latest version taking place on Oct. 8. The purpose is to collect food items for the Bobcat Backpack program, an organization started by Radford alumnae – all mothers, as co-founder Jane Fisher ’94, M.S ’00, points out – to provide nutritious weekend food and snacks for needy schoolchildren in the community.
This year, student volunteers circuited the MAC court inside the Student Recreation and Wellness Center for about 30 minutes, wearing their newly minted Radford Gives Back T-shirts and collecting food for the backpack program.
Volunteers began collecting donations the day before, receiving around 5,000 food items.
More than 300 volunteers participated in the collection and packing process this year. That’s a new record – by a lot – said Jen Rentschler, director of Student Involvement and one of the event’s organizers. Typically, about 175 to 250 students participate.
Radford Gives Back received tremendous support this year from the Radford University president’s office and cabinet, which donated more than 1,000 items, Rentschler said. Staff members in the David E. Armstrong Complex pooled funds to purchase 91 cases of peanut butter. That equals 1,092 jars.
Rentschler commended the efforts of Fraternity and Sorority Life, “whose members not only contributed almost 20% of the collected donations,” she noted, “but who also made up most of the participants during the packing event.”
Other clubs that made significant contributions included Highlander Student Media, Student Government Association, Skeet and Trap, Game Design Club and Tutors for Youth.
The event kicked off with a small group of speakers who highlighted the importance of Radford Gives Back and praised the Highlander volunteers – students, faculty, staff and alumni – who chose to give a few minutes of their time to help children in the university community.
“Here in Radford, our support of Bobcat Backpacks builds a healthy and thriving community. Our work supports the development of Radford’s youngest learners and helps ensure their success in school and their future well-being,” Radford University President Bret Danilowicz said. “Please understand that the work you have already done to collect and the work you will do when you package this food makes an immediate impact.”
The president also recognized the many student groups, organizations and student-athletes who contributed to the events.
“Thank you all for your work, donations and time to make this event possible and to serve our community,” he said. “Thank you for setting an outstanding example of our culture of care, and of our mission to build stronger communities.”
First Lady Kay Danilowicz followed the president, saying, “Every year when I come to this event, I am reminded just how special this university is. When Bret and I talk about a culture of care, this is exactly what we mean: people coming together, giving their time, energy and compassion to make life better for others.”
In 10 years, the Radford Gives Back initiative has collected more than 150,000 total items for Bobcat Backpacks. At least 160 bags full of food are distributed each week to children in Radford, “giving them nourishment and allowing them to have their needs fulfilled for three months,” President Danilowicz said.
Bobcat Backpacks teamed with Radford Gives Back in 2016 when the need to feed local children grew, “and the university has been extremely supportive of our program,” Fisher said.
“This is such a wonderful event,” she continued, “and we just love to see all those college kids come out and support their college town community. It's heartwarming to see them all show up.”
Among the students volunteering was Katherine Hudson, a junior elementary education major from Blacksburg, Virginia. She and freshman Iyana Spencer are student alumni ambassadors who were in charge of placing snacks in bags.
“I just think giving back to our community through this program that supports our schools so much is just so important,” she said moments before the rush around the gym began. “It’s great that we get to be involved with such a wonderful event that does so much for our community.”
Spencer agreed. “I really enjoy seeing people smile and just helping the community,” said the biomedical sciences major from Portsmouth, Virginia.
Rentschler said later, “This is one of my favorite events because it gives students a chance to show up and support our local community and contribute – both through monetary support and through hands-on service – toward making all of Radford a better place.”