By Melissa Valerie

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its first food drive on Saturday during the football game against Rhode Island University.

The University’s football team and Island Harvest, a Long Island-based, non-profit organization, were the first to start the program, then SGA decided to get involved, Kathleen Hunker, SGA’s club affairs chair, said.

Island Harvest donates the food and gives assistance to the needy in the Long Island area.

“SGA decided to attach themselves to it so that not just the athletic teams, but all the clubs and the students could participate,” Hunker said.

All of the University’s clubs, sororities, fraternities, as well as any other student were encouraged to participate in the food drive.

Hunker said that Island Harvest collected a truck-load of food that was donated by the University community and parents of students who attended the game.

The food was gathered by SGA members who were situated at booths at both entrances of the stadium and the drive officially started at the beginning of the football game and ended at halftime.

Four sororities participated and Strictly Steppin’ was the only club to donate to the drive, collecting 92 cans of non-perishables.

“Strictly Steppin’ did an amazing job,” Hunker said.

The club was awarded a monetary prize of $200 for having donated the most food.

The sororities that participated were awarded points towards their organizations.

Individuals who were not affiliated with any clubs, but donated, were given gift cards for free meals at local restaurants that have worked with Island Harvest in the past.

Hunker said that SGA is hoping to organize another food drive in the spring and hopes more clubs and organizations will participate.

“Students will be trying to get rid of their meals plan points by then, so we’re hoping more students will participate,” Hunker said.