PSU Donates Thanksgiving Baskets

PSU Donates Thanksgiving Baskets

Connor Smith

For the Clock

cmsmith17@plymouth.edu

Plymouth State University recently had a food drive that resulted in many full and happy families in and around the Plymouth area. As many as 600 families, or more, were given Thanksgiving baskets that were provided by the University. Through many local service agencies and food pantries, Plymouth was able to give 552 people in Plymouth, as well as ten surrounding towns, the food they needed to have a plentiful Thanksgiving.

With the support of over 60 volunteers, baskets were packed and delivered to the families. 47 undergraduate and graduate students, and nearly 20 alumni and their family members were able to make this project happen. All volunteers were happy to be able to spread happiness throughout the community, and also enjoyed the fact that they were able to help others during the holiday. People were delighted to meet the volunteers and were very appreciative about their care and concern.

The donations from PSU staff, faculty, retirees, alumni, and friends were incredibly helpful and made it so that the cost of the baskets could be covered.

Having called over 200 households looking for donations of unwanted or unused baskets, the student workers from the Reflection and Spiritual Care Center were able to gather enough baskets to make the event possible.

This was the seventh year in a row where the Phi Beta Upsilon alumni group worked together on this project. There was a large amount of food gathered for Thanksgiving. They put a majority of their free time into putting hours into the packaging and delivering of the baskets. Alumni brought their children to show them donating their time and giving back can help out their community.

President Donald Birx let this project operate out of Heritage Commons for a second year. The University Police made sure that all the baskets were delivered safely to their destinations. This was the 43rd year in a row this project was able to happen, and will continue to happen in upcoming years with the hard work and commitment from the university and community.