University to host community meal and food drive

USC Aiken will host its seventh annual One Table event in the Student Activities Center (SAC) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20.

The cost of entry to this year’s event is two cans, but a backpack with at least 10 will give entrance to six attendees and will include a Thanksgiving meal and activities like holiday trivia.

Though this event started as a community meal with activities, three years ago the university started collecting cans and other nonperishable foods for local elementary school students in need.

According to Assistant Director of Student Life, Christian Medders, who oversees the program, they will be donated to North Aiken Elementary school on Friday, November 22. He also mentioned that student volunteers are needed for that day and that the hours can be used toward an organization’s counted volunteer hours. To volunteer for the event, contact Medders in the Student Life office.

Last year there were 115 backpacks, with ten cans in each, donated to students at Warrenville Elementary School. Medders said that his goal for this year is 130 backpacks.

He encouraged students, faculty, staff and community members to donate backpacks with goods like easy mac, pop-tab cans and other items that will be easy for children who “might not have adult supervision.”

Regarding the community meal, Medders said that the idea is recreating the original Thanksgiving, where people are able to have a meal together and share what they are thankful for.

“What I love about this time of year is that we’re able to connect and say ‘I’m thankful for my health’ (or) ‘I’m thankful for my family.’”