| RSOs bring in over 1,000 canned goods for homeless |
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| Written by Tamara Howard, Daily Vidette Staff Writer |
| Thursday, 09 April 2009 00:00 |
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Spring semester has created a giving mood among Registered Student Organizations at ISU. The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences' RSO, Human Services Organization, recently ended their month-long campaign with the collection of 1,357 cans on Monday. "There was no real goal originally, we just wanted people to give towards the cause," Bianca Brown, head of public relations for HSO, said. "The participation soon sky-rocketed with the involvement of professors." Members of HSO were able to get seven professors to offer extra credit to students who participated in the food drive. One member even collected and stored the cans in a storage closet of a faculty member. Karen Stephens, director of the Child Care Center in Turner Hall as well as organization and administration of childhood programs professor, offered extra credit to her students. "I gave my students up to three points of extra credit," Stephens said. "It's not a lot but it still gets people involved." This year was the first time HSO decided to hold a canned food drive, though in previous years they provided some kind of community service. "The organization itself is nothing but community service," Brown said. "We just decided to hold a canned food drive this year." HSO held "Nutrition for a Mission" prior to the canned food drive. They raised money by selling fruits and vegetables. All proceeds went to Home Sweet Home Ministries, located in Bloomington, for the previous service as well as the canned food drive. "We decided to have all of our proceeds go to Home Sweet Home Ministries this semester, Ashlee Gilot, president of HSO, said. "We feel passionate about homeless people; we want to give them stuff that we as students have every day." On the other hand, School of Communication graduates have decided to donate all proceeds to the Center for Hope food pantry for their food drive, Operation: Food For Thought. "We wanted to give all proceeds to a smaller food pantry," Alauna Akins, OFFT project coordinator, said. "They do not get a lot of publicity but they have many programs that seek to do many large things." OFFT was created by a group of Communication graduates who are expected to create a semester project for their Theory and Research in Persuasion class. "Good things wouldn't happen without persuasion," Akins said. "I believe that ordinary people can do extraordinary things." OFFT is accepting food, toiletries and monetary donations and will run until April 10. Drop-off locations include the Communications Office on the fourth floor of Fell Hall, the University Program Board office in the Bone Student Center and the Leadership and Service Office on the second floor of the Bone Student Center. |
