Fanshawe students to canvass for food on Fleming
Jairus Patterson, a television broadcast student, is trying to build on a program he started last year by collecting food from the predominantly student residences near the college on Fleming Drive. And the idea itself spawned from a class project.
“Last year I did a news story on the food bank,” Patterson explained, regarding how he got the idea. “I thought students are very lucky [that] pretty much the majority of us have it easy, having food in our cupboards and all that, so I thought why don't we donate food.”
In it's first year Patterson managed to collect about 20 bags of non-perishable food items for the local food bank, mainly through donations from his friends and family. But this year he's taking the project to the streets in hopes of showing that Fanshawe students have a heart, one that he believes will get behind the plan.
“Fleming Drive, and Fanshawe students in particular, are perceived to have a bad reputation,” Patterson said. “So I thought I could easily collect 100 bags from the students in the area and it's their way of giving back, of showing that students aren't just about partying and thinking about themselves, but they're thinking of others as well.”
“Whatever any group gives us is always more than what we've had before,” said Jane Roy, Co-Executive Director with London Food Bank. “We serve about 2,500 families a month and we see about 400-500 students. We're happy if somebody brings us a bag or if somebody brings us a pickup truck of groceries.”
Though there's never a good time for a family to be wanting for necessities, Patterson and Roy are hoping that, it being so close to Christmas, people will be in the giving spirit when it comes to helping those people who most need it.
“It tends to be the best giving time between now and Christmas,” Roy said. “People are in that spirit. They sit down and think about Thanksgiving and Christmas and a huge component of those is giving to others.”
As an added incentive, when a household donates food, their donations will be marked down and the house that donates the most by the time the drive is finished will win a prize worth between $50 and $100.
“Shoppers Drug Mart has graciously donated a big gift basket of housing essentials,” continued Patterson. “Things like mops, laundry detergent and dish detergent- any essentials students need. Whatever house gives the most will win that in the end.”
The project will target varsity teams, school events and classes alike as Patterson is asking that every team and class try to fill four bags with non-perishables for the food drive. Baby formula, baby food, pasta sauce and canned meats are the most needed donations the food bank is hoping to receive.
