Roger Williams University has partnered with the East Bay Food Pantry in Bristol, Rhode Island to bring Thanksgiving to families in need since 2014. 

Student Life Administrative Assistant Nancy Costa along with student life staff assistants helped to organize the annual Turkey Basket Food Drive. 

This year saw the largest donation by weight to the East Bay Food Pantry at 2,509 pounds of food, said Costa. $855 in gift cards were also collected. 

Although this was Costa’s first year hosting the food drive, her favorite part is, “seeing the generosity and kindness of everyone across the University that donated. I [also] love seeing all the creativity.”

Anyone across the university could participate including faculty and staff, students, and sports teams. Costa said some groups involved in putting together the Turkey Baskets included: athletics (lacrosse, tennis, sailing, soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, and softball), the tutoring center, Delta Sigma Pi, Science Alliance, Dining, Freedom by Design, SPLO, Health Services, Residence Life & Housing, Campus Democrats, the bursar, Financial Aid, Marketing and Communications, Student Life, Counseling, Society of Women Engineers, Admissions, and Forensic Science Club. 

The most common food items in Turkey Baskets were canned goods and canned veggies, but Costa said there was a variety from canned goods to paper goods and coloring books. 

If students were not able to participate in the Turkey Basket Food Drive, they can volunteer their time to serve food on holidays at a soup kitchen!