College System of Tennessee kicks off 24th Annual Food Drive Challenge

Tennessee’s community and technical colleges have kicked off their 24th Annual Food Drive Challenge, with campuses competing to collect the most food items and cash donations to help stock student food pantries on their campuses and food banks in their communities.

The colleges, comprising the College System of Tennessee, collected 132,701 items, including cash, in last year’s Challenge. Over the years, more than 1,490,700 food items and funds converted to items have been collected.

A total of 22 food pantries are located on the College System’s campuses statewide, stocked with food items for students in need. The Food Drives also donate items to food banks and other anti-hunger organizations in their communities.

The Food Drive Challenge is organized by the Tennessee Board of Regents Office of Student Success, and the colleges compete in categories based on enrollment size. This year’s drive began Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 9, with the winning colleges to be announced in mid-December.

Those wishing to donate non-perishable food items or cash donations should contact their local community college or Tennessee College of Applied Technology for drop-off times and locations.