Gannon Faculty and Staff Feed the Hungry, Pound for Pound
Posted: January 17, 2014In the fall of 2011, the sport and exercise science department
and Exercise Science Club were charged with developing healthy
recipes using ingredients traditionally found in the food banks and
pantries within Gannon's Erie-Gannon Alliances to Improve
Neighborhood Sustainability (Erie-GAINS) outreach area.
Through this experience, an identified lack of two common food
products became apparent. "After the students and I visited two
food banks we noticed that they were not distributing any pasta or
rice," said assistant professor Suzanne Kitts Ph.D., ATC. "It was
explained to us that pasta and rice is not always available to
distribute which was shocking to us. Those items are staples in so
many households, so we decided to help." Kitts, along with former
Exercise Science Club president Brianna Anderson, took
action.
Calling the program the Pound for Pound Challenge, Kitts and
Anderson challenged students and faculty in Gannon University's
Morosky College of Health Professions and Sciences to give back,
and give they did. December 11 marked the conclusion of the third
annual collection of non-perishable goods, mainly rice and pasta.
The following day, a 949-pound donation was made to the Second
Harvest Food Bank; that total easily surpassed the 763 lbs
collected in 2012.
The sport and exercise science department collected 350 lbs of
rice and pasta, followed by the Villa Maria School of Nursing (237
lbs.) and the mathematics department (204 lbs.). While the spirit
of competition between departments continues to drive donations
higher, it is the spirit of giving that motivates the participating
programs. Said Kitts, "It's about giving back to the community that
surrounds Gannon University."
Erie-GAINS is a long-term, mutually beneficial community
initiative designed to expand the University's efforts to support
the common good of the neighborhood surrounding the University's
urban campus.