More than 34 million people in the US are food insecure, according to Feeding America. This number does not exclude Rowan students and with Thanksgiving on Nov. 24, many of these students will be looking for resources that provide meals for the holiday, while others will be looking for ways to give. 

The Office of Volunteerism & Community Engagement (VCE) is hosting its annual Adopt-A-Family food drive.

“Over the years we’ve expanded. We work with a number of different community partners… And we ask that Rowan community members, students, faculty, staff, departments, clubs and organizations, all sorts of different groups, sign up to sponsor a family,” said Andrew Perrone, the assistant director of VCE. “And then we provide them with the shopping list saying, ‘these are the items that would go into that shopping list’ and then they also provide, in addition to the items, they do a gift card. And we have, every year, over 150 families get sponsored and supported through the organization.” 

Anyone who is interested in participating in the drive can choose the size of the family they would like to donate to by contacting volunteer@rowan.edu. Drop-offs for donations are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and begin on Nov. 14 until Nov. 18, with boxes for the donations being provided at the time of dropoff. 

“They [Rowan] will be doing Adopt-a-Family, but… those boxes will be going to other places. Lots of Rowan students have… given things. We will get a lot of Thanksgiving foods at The Shop and people are welcome to come by Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. that week of Thanksgiving. We’ll have plenty of Thanksgiving foods,” said Becky Foster, coordinator of The Shop food pantry on campus.

Four partner organizations, The Boys & Girls Club of Gloucester County, New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection & Permanency, Rowan University’s SHOP Pantry, and the Resource Center, will be handling the donations.

These organizations aren’t the only ones with a Thanksgiving option.

“I know at Holly Pointe, they’re doing a free meal on Thursday evening. And then one of the student groups on campus, the Episcopal church at Rowan University, TEC@RU, they’re having a Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day at the church, which is across from Holly Pointe. It’s next to the Landmark, St. Thomas Episcopal Church at 1 p.m. in their Fellowship Hall.” 

The website for St. Thomas Episcopal Church says this is a potluck meal and that all are welcome. 

The Holly Pointe Dining Hall will be serving a full turkey dinner to students who are staying on campus for the holiday and RSVP through ProfLink. Dinner will be served from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Glassworks Eatery and is free for students. 

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