By: Tristan Hill
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – University of Arkansas students are battling it out with students across the SEC, but this time it isn’t on the court or the field.
The Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry is competing against pantries at Ole Miss, Georgia, Mizzou, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Auburn to see which SEC school can donate the most goods.
Various items are worth different point values, and the school with the most points will win bragging rights among the conference schools.
hygiene products = 4 points per item
food items = 3 points per item
financial donation = 2 points per $1
Student Food Drives Coordinator Briana Roden said drives like this one are essential to keeping the Full Circle Food Pantry stocked for those who need it.
“This specific drive is super important because we’re not just asking students and members of the U of A to donate, we’re asking all Hog fans to donate to keep us stocked through the summer,” Roden said.
Those looking to help can drop off donations in the bin outside the pantry at any time, or to a pantry board member during open hours on Monday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The push to donate comes at a crucial time for the pantry, as demand for services from Full Circle has skyrocketed with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Before the pandemic, we were serving an average of 750 household members a month,” Roden said. “But soon after COVID-19 arrived, we saw an almost 100% increase in demand.”
Roden said numbers have decreased some as people are able to resume working, but they’re still higher than they were pre-pandemic, with the pantry still serving around 850 household members per month.
The SEC food fight competition ends Saturday, April 17.
Anyone planning a large donation can visit the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry website to schedule a drop-off time or send their financial support.