Cookeville – Tennessee Tech University student organizations and donors are helping the mission of eliminating hidden hunger on campus during the annual crowdfunding drive to support the Tech food pantry as part of homecoming activities.
Officially running Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, the initial goal of the 3-day crowdfunding effort was to raise $10,000, the Golden Eagle community exited that goal raising $34,439.68.
Each year, Tech student organizations compete in a series of events during homecoming week to earn participation points. This year students voted to include a drive to support the food pantry again as one event to ensure that those in need benefit from these activities.
“This Tennessee Tech community has come through every single year,” Michelle Huddleston, associate director of residential life and service learning, said. “We can raise our weekly grocery budget, which was needed because we are serving at least 15 more consistent clients now than last year.”
Huddleston says that the funds raised through the event will provide weekly groceries to the 40-50 clients the food pantry serves on a regular, weekly basis. She said the pantry does purchase some non-perishable items, but the funds raised mostly allow them to provide clients with fresh and more nutritious options.
“We have a saying we like to use when it comes to support, we have received on campus and from alum, ‘Tech feeding Tech.’ The campus community just simply shows up,” said Huddleston. “There are such philanthropic hearts on this campus. It has become the culture. I am proud to see these student organizations caring about their fellow students and food insecurity. They may never understand the scale of their collective contributions and the impact it will make, but I hope they understand how genuinely thankful we are for their homecoming support each year and that they will impact the daily lives of some of their fellow students.”
To learn more about Tech’s food pantry, to schedule a donation or to receive food, visit https://www.tntech.edu/volunteer/pantry.php.
