Northern Michigan University’s chapter of the Mortar Board National Honor Society hosted a canned food drive for the NMU Food Pantry on Oct. 18, collecting over 200 pounds of food. The drive was led by the organization’s president, Tony Anderson.

“Our goal for this can drive was simply to volunteer our time to collect items to contribute to the campus food pantry,” said Cierra Oakley, a Mortar Board member. “We got a great response by going door to door, and the community was very generous when we explained our cause.”

The NMU Food Pantry serves around 2,000 people each year. In the past month alone, 318 students and community members used its resources.

“I think those are pretty compelling numbers that show there is a definite need on campus for these resources,” Said Michelle Jacob Food Pantry Organizer.

The pantry is almost entirely donation-driven, and this event aligned closely with the organization’s core values of scholarship, leadership and service.

A large donation was also provided by Jilbert Dairy. One of the most important aspects of Marquette’s community is its ability to come together for a good cause.

“This event was a great way for us to spread awareness about NMU’s campus food pantry and an effective way to help keep it stocked,” Oakley added.

If you are interested in getting involved, the organization is actively seeking new members and has sent out an email through the Dean’s Office for those looking for more information.