UIS students collect a record 8,354 pounds of food for the Central Illinois Foodbank

Student volunteers at the University of Illinois Springfield collected 8,354 pounds of food during the annual Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods competition on Halloween night. That’s nearly double the 4,450 pounds of food collected last year for the Central Illinois Foodbank during the October 31 event.

Seventeen teams of UIS students canvassed assigned Springfield neighborhoods collecting non-perishable food items. The teams visited the neighborhoods before Halloween, distributing door hangers that explained the project. The canned food drive is part of the UIS Holiday Stars Project, a campus-wide service initiative giving focus to UIS’ efforts to make a difference in the local community during the holiday season. The effort now shifts to the UIS campus, with a goal of collecting additional canned foods to reach an overall goal of 10,000 pounds by December 2, 2010.

Prizes were awarded to the top three student groups collecting the most food. The top five groups include the first place Lamda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society with 798 pounds, the second place Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and Psychology Club with 779 pounds, the third place Goodfellas/Goodgirls student group with 760 pounds, the fourth place Christian Student Fellowship with 642 pounds and the fifth place Monstars student group with 632 pounds.

For more information about the UIS Holiday Stars Project, contact Jordan Jeffers, volunteer services coordinator, at 217/206-7716, or go to www.uis.edu/holidaystars.