The Hillsdale College Bookstore will be kicking off its annual canned food drive to benefit the Salvation Army this week. As they have in previous years, the store will be offering 20% off coupons for a single item of apparel to students who donate canned and dry goods to benefit members of the community in need.
Angie Berry, trade book coordinator for the bookstore, is in charge of organizing the canned food drive this year.
“The Bookstore strongly believes in supporting the college and the local community,” Berry said. “By partnering with the GOAL organization, we are helping the students reach out to the local community, by providing food to the people in the community who desperately need it.”
Senior Joe Wellemeyer, an employee of the bookstore, said the event is a great incentive for students and that it brings in a great deal of donations.
“There are usually at least a few boxes of canned goods by the end of the drive,” Wellemeyer said. “There are usually more people in the bookstore during the canned food drive than there are on a normal day. Some people even take advantage of the drive and donate without using the coupon, which is great as well.”
“Offering one coupon per each item donated does seem to drive up the number of donated items brought in per person,” Berry said. “We feel it’s a win-win opportunity for all!”
Canned food drives are vital to the community in winter months as families need more help to stay afloat. The American Red Cross helps families across the country by organizing food drives through different organizations such as colleges and high schools to bring attention to a major issue in the United States.