Holiday spirit takes hold of the Ag Econ Club
By Zack Ruesler, posted 12/8/05

The Ag Econ Club hosted a student v. faculty Holiday Food Drive Dec. 4-9 to benefit the Central Missouri Food Bank.

"The reason we do the food drive is to help during the busiest time of year because many families cannot support themselves and without these donations they would not be able to have a good Christmas," Donna Drebis, an agricultural economics major, said.

The Central Missouri Food Bank works to provide food to the 15 percent of people who live below the poverty line in Boone County. They look at the family's total income and compare it to the number of people within the household. The poverty line according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a family of four is currently $19,350.

The two ways to participate in the food drive are to donate either cans or money. Barrels have been set up in the entrance of Mumford Hall and another near the entrance to the Dickinson Student Achievement Center in 2-64 Agriculture Building. Monetary donations are to be sent to Melinda Poole, whose office is located at 200 Mumford Hall. Every dollar donated is worth three cans of food, and thanks to many local organizations, the food bank can purchase around 60 pounds of food with one dollar.

"They are always so happy for our help. It is the simple act of setting out barrels to collect food that helps some families have a great Christmas, and without the community there would really be no way for the Central Missouri Food Bank to function," Sarah Henderson, former Ag Econ club president, said.

This is the second time that the Ag Econ club has hosted a food drive for the Central Missouri Food Bank.

"We had done a food drive for Ag Week the year before and saw that there was a need and great benefit so we decided to do it again this year, and decided to make it student v. faculty to boost interest this time," Henderson said.

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