SAAC Food Drive Brings in Over 14,000 Pounds

By Emily Moses, MIAA Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The MIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee collected 14,407 pounds of donated food during its annual canned food drive held this fall. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit local organizations in the communities of the nine participating MIAA institutions.

This was the first year SAAC chose to host the food drive in the fall instead of February, with a desire to raise donations in time for the holidays in each community.

"Emporia State SAAC wanted to be able to give to the community when there was the greatest need," Emporia State SAAC campus representative Carmen Leeds stated. "In years past, the local food pantry was low or empty before the holidays; 2009 was no different and the amount raised this year was used to ensure families were able to have food on the table for Thanksgiving."

Opportunities like the food drive allow student-athletes a chance to work together outside of competition to help others in their communities. The fundraiser is one way SAAC emphasizes its mission of enhancing the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity and integrity.

This experience is part of an NCAA Division II initiative to incorporate the energy and winning spirit of the game environment into each community.

This year's total was the third highest in SAAC canned food drive history since the program's beginning in 2000. A fundraiser high of 19,456 lbs. was raised in 2007. The success of this year's drive has prompted SAAC to discuss continuing the program in the fall next year.

Member institutions participating in the fundraiser individually choose local organizations to receive the proceeds from the program. However, making this a friendly competition among each school is another highlight of the annual drive. Emporia State tops this year's canned food drive with 3,821 lbs.

To date, SAAC has raised more than 125,000 lbs. of food for MIAA communities.

Organizations benefiting from the annual drive include: Food Pantry (Warrensburg, Mo.); Salvation Army Food Pantry and Abundant Harvest Food Kitchen (Emporia, Kan.); Crosslines Churches of Joplin and Salvation Army (Joplin, Mo.); Second Harvest Food Bank of St. Joseph (St. Joseph, Mo.); Omaha Food Bank (Omaha, Neb.); Ministry Center in Maryville (Maryville, Mo.); Safehouse and Wesley House (Pittsburg, Kan.); Intervention Ministries (Bolivar, Mo.); and the Salvation Army (Kirksville, Mo.).