Boiler Volunteer Network gathering donations for food bank

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue’s Boiler Volunteer Network kicked off the eighth annual Fall Harvest Food Drive on Monday (Oct. 27). Students, faculty and staff will be able to donate to the food drive through Nov. 21. All donations will benefit Food Finders Food Bank, which serves 16 counties in Indiana.

Boiler Volunteer Network Director Harry Brown said that the group hopes to collect at least 14,000 pounds of food. He said more people are in need of donations this year due to the turbulent economy.

The food bank is seeking non-perishable items, especially canned vegetables, canned tuna or canned chicken, rice, beans, soups, pasta, pasta sauce, canned fruits, cereal, flour and juices.

Donors are welcome to give food as individuals or collect items as a group. For more information or to obtain a donation box for a group or department, call the Boiler Volunteer Network at (765) 496-2450 or e-mail bvn@purdue.edu.

Individuals and groups may drop off their final donations on the west side of Stewart Center from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 20 and 21 and from 9-11 a.m. Nov. 22.

Project Move Out lets Purdue students help local needy families

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University students moving out at the end of this semester will have the chance to donate usable items to the eighth annual Project Move Out, which will distribute items to needy families in the area.

The event, sponsored by the Boiler Volunteer Network, will collect goods between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday (May 2-3) in the Purdue Armory.

Also, student volunteers will be out in West Lafayette’s New Chauncey neighborhood from 1-4 p.m. Saturday (May 3) to gather donations of usable household items that are left curbside for the collection and pick up trash throughout the area. Purdue Physical Facilities donated the use of four trucks for the event.

Students can donate items such as clothing, shoes, cleaning supplies, electronics, books, furniture, laundry soap, winter coats and luggage, said Harry Brown, assistant dean of students and director of the Boiler Volunteer Network.

Then, from 1-4 p.m. Sunday (May 4), low-income community members will have a chance to “shop” for free items they need.

For the first time, the Boiler Volunteer Network is working on Project Move Out with the Campus Community Partnership Committee, a group that serves to increase Purdue’s cooperation with and contributions to the surrounding community.

Volunteers are still needed to help with the program, and one-hour shifts are available, Brown said. To make arrangements or for information, contact the Boiler Volunteer Network at (765) 496-2450 or bvn@purdue.edu.