Let's Fuel Our Community! The Ron Fronheiser Memorial Food Drive Competition is ON!

Hey fellow Tritons! Get ready to make a real difference and show off your school spirit because our annual Food Drive Competition is officially underway now until May 2. This year holds extra significance as we proudly dedicate this impactful effort to the memory of the former facilities manager at the AMSC/WATR Center at Paine Field, Ron Fronheiser, a true champion for our students.

As Ryan Nguyen, our AmeriCorps Engagement Coordinator from the Food Pantry, shared, "Ron was known for his deep sense of duty and compassion for others." His life was a testament to service, and his commitment extended to our very own campus, as he not only helped plan the event last year but also organized a successful food drive at the AMSC/WATR Center, sending all donations directly to our Food Pantry.

Inspired by Ron's selflessness, we're partnering with the AMSC/WATR Center to co-host this vital food drive. Your contributions will directly benefit both our Edmonds College Food Pantry and the incredible Nourishing Network Organization.

The Nourishing Network, a program within the Edmonds School District, provides weekend meal kits and pop-up pantries for local schoolchildren and their families. They currently support 500 students with weekend meals and assist over 375 families each month. Meanwhile, our own Edmonds College Food Pantry is serving an average of over 200 student visitors each week. Your help is crucial in ensuring our community has access to the food they need.

Faculty and Staff

Get ready to compete in our annual Food Drive. We'll bring a blue donation box and promotional materials right to your office for easy participation. Simply collect your department's contributions, and we'll handle the pick-up on April 30. Join us in this friendly competition, culminating in the winner announcement on Building Community Day, May 2. Let's see which department can donate the most to support our students and community!

Student Clubs

This year, we're adding a fun and competitive element just for you. Each participating student club will compete in a separate bracket to see who can donate the most items and earn a Golden Banana Trophy! Winners will be announced during Building Community Day on May 2. Club officers are invited to attend the awards ceremony to claim their prize and take a photo to celebrate their win.

Ready to Get Your Club Involved? Here's How:

1. Donate Easily:  Drop off your donations at the CSEL office in Brier 252 (upstairs) during weekday office hours, there is also a donation box in Brier next to the bookstore!
2. Weekly Collections & Leaderboards: We'll collect donations every Wednesday (April 30 is the final push!) and send out weekly leaderboard emails to track everyone's progress.
3. Final Push on Building Community Day: Bring any last-minute donations on May 2 before the awards ceremony.

How Your Donations Will Be Counted:

• Quantity Counts: A box of 50 granola bars = 50 items! Please label bags/boxes with the item count. You can also email your total count for accuracy.
• Monetary Donations Welcome: Donate directly to the Nourishing Network via the QR code on promotional materials and email a receipt/screenshot with your club name. Every $1 donated = 1 item.
• Mind the Sweets: Sugary treats (hard candy, chocolate, candy bars) will count as one-quarter (1/4) of an item. Ex: 200 candies = 50 items. We'll round any fractions to the nearest whole number, and confirm final counts with each club for fairness.

Let's Beat Last Year's Incredible Success!

Last year, we smashed our goal, collecting over 12,000 items. This year, let's aim even higher with a goal of 13,500 items!

Early Bird Milestones:

• For Departments: The first to reach 500 total items.
• For Students: The first club to donate 250 items.

Stay tuned for weekly updates on the leaderboard. Your generosity will directly support both the Nourishing Network and the Edmonds College Food Pantry. Items from the high-needs list (look out for that info) will be prioritized for the Nourishing Network, allowing for more personalized support. All other donations will be split evenly between both programs.

Let's honor Ron's legacy of service and compassion by showing our incredible Triton spirit and making this year's food drive the best one yet. Sign up your club today and let's fuel our community together!