THIBODAUX — The second Nicholls CAN! food drive — a new twice-a-year initiative benefiting local food banks — will collect nonperishable food and cash donations from Oct. 1–15. In addition to the donation boxes placed throughout the Nicholls State University campus and at Thibodaux businesses, this semester’s drive will expand into Houma and be integrated into Nicholls Homecoming Week (Oct. 6–14).
“We are excited to have several supportive businesses in Houma joining us and to coordinate with Homecoming by offering drop-off points for those coming to activities,” said Jean Donegan, Nicholls CAN! committee member and head of the Department of Art. “This drive is unique in that it involves the whole Nicholls community — there’s a collection box in every single campus building and a volunteer from every department. We hope that Nicholls CAN! will become a part of our culture and as familiar to the community as Crawfish Day or Family Day.”
In addition to food, donations of toilet paper, shampoo, tissue, soap, toothpaste, dishwashing liquid, washing powder, sanitary napkins and cleaning supplies are greatly needed by food banks. The goal is to collect about 7,000 items, approximately one for each Nicholls student and employee. The first drive, held in March, collected more than 6,500 nonperishable food items and more than $3,300 in cash donations. Each drive benefits three of the six area food banks. Collections from the spring drive were split among the Thibodaux, Raceland and Galliano food banks; the current drive will benefit those in Houma, Morgan City and Dulac.
Local businesses interested in being a Nicholls CAN! drop-off location can call Donegan at 985-448-4597 or Debbie Raziano, director of alumni affairs, at 985-448-4111to have a collection box and poster delivered.
