Thanksgiving food drive helps dozens of families

Junior Ilene Fritsch drops off bags for families in need.

In this season of giving and Thanksgiving, members of the Rowan University community have again come together to assist the less fortunate.

On November 18, dozens of Rowan students, faculty and staff contributed holiday foodstuffs to help feed families served by the AIDS Coalition of Southern New Jersey.

The 2009 Thanksgiving food drive, which started in September, enabled individuals, teams, offices and departments to "adopt" families where loved ones are affected by HIV/AIDS and provide all they need for a joyous holiday meal.

"I love the holidays and I want people to be happy," said Ilene Fritsch, 20, a junior entrepreneurship major from North Arlington.

Delivering two overflowing bags of groceries to the Office for Service Learning & Volunteerism in the Student Center, Fritsch purchased enough to feed a small family, everything from stuffing and gravy to canned vegetables and dessert.

"I just wanted to make sure a family who couldn't afford it themselves could have a good Thanksgiving meal," Fritsch said.

Andrew Perrone, Assistant Director of Service Learning, Volunteerism and Engagement, said the Rowan community is helping to feed more than 25 families for Thanksgiving.

Loading food for the drive.

He said limited refrigerated storage curtailed the number of holiday turkeys available for donation but gift cards provided by some donors are, in a sense, better. They don't spoil and they're much more flexible.

"With gift cards, people can buy a turkey, eggs, or other perishable items," he said.

He said though the Thanksgiving food drive has ended, donors may contribute foodstuffs to his office for distribution to area food banks.

The office is also accepting donations for its "Packed with Love" program throughout November for troops overseas.

"The nice thing about this program is it provides a care package for our troops from home," Perrone said. "It's not that our service men and women don't get what they need from the military but to get a care package is always nice."

Items still being collected for the "Packed with Love" program include dried meat jerky, Power Bars, lip balm, foot powder, work gloves, deodorant and calling cards.

Perrone said the Office for Service Learning & Volunteerism conducts various programs throughout the year. It advises individual students and groups about charitable activities and guides students to organizations where they may do some good.

Perrone said service to the community helps volunteers feel more a part of their world, more connected and involved with the region around them.

"Service and volunteerism is becoming more and more a part of life on campus," he said. "Students are interested in advocacy work and often feel they get back more than they put in."

Perrone said clubs, departments and organizations that contributed to the Thanksgiving food drive included Rowan After Hours, the women's basketball team, the football and hockey teams, Circle K, Kappa Delta Pi, the Financial Aid office and the Counseling Center.

Josh Howard, 18, a sophomore Radio, Television, Film major, said he's made volunteerism a part of his life since high school and feels richer for it.

"I think everyone should do it," he said. "You just get a good feeling about yourself when you help out another person."

For more information, visit the Office for Service Learning & Volunteerism in Suite 210 of the Chamberlain Student Center or online at www.rowan.edu/volunteer.