Pellissippi State Community College earns fifth consecutive win in The Food Drive Challenge

Pellissippi State Community College students, faculty, and staff collectively donated 43,058 food items to The Food Drive Challenge, an annual challenge that occurs in November and December. The Food Drive Challenge’s participants are the public community and technical colleges throughout the state of Tennessee.

According to an article on Pellissippi State Community College’s website, Heidi Leming, who is the Tennessee Board of Regents Vice Chancellor for Student Success, was quoted as saying of the yearly challenge, “Every year, the generosity of the campus communities exceeds expectations. The food drive is just one of the many ways our campus communities are supporting efforts to address student food insecurity. It is also a reminder of the importance of supporting students outside the classroom to help ensure their success.”

The food and cash that is collected as part of the challenge is collected to go to local food banks and other organizations that serve community members in need. The Food Drive Challenge began in 1999 as an effort by the Student Government Presidents Council, who were all student leaders from across Tennessee. Since its inception, upward of 1.7 million food items have been donated to the cause.

Many of Tennessee's public community colleges and technical colleges have food pantries and gardens to help combat food insecurity in the communities they serve. The food pantries and the food grown in the schools’ gardens are available to any student in need.

For more information about Pellissippi State Community College, visit the school’s website.