WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University students living on campus donated 3,984 pounds of food to give a boost to mail carriers in Tippecanoe County during the 16th annual National Association of Letter Carriers food drive.

In its first year of participating, Purdue University Residences pushed the local total up to 74,000 pounds, two tons more than last year. That increase helped the local carriers defeat Monroe County carriers, assisted by Indiana University students, by several thousand pounds. Tippecanoe County carriers retain the small wooden bucket that goes to the winner of each year’s friendly competition, a prize similar to the Old Oaken Bucket given annually to the winner of the Purdue-Indiana football game.

University Residences’ students contributed 3,984 pounds, which goes to Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette, Ind. The food bank’s resource director said she is “completely thrilled” by the generosity of Purdue students.

“We are so pleased that Purdue residence halls chose to participate,” said Kim Motuliak. “The staff and students were so cooperative and wonderful to work with.”

Fifteen residence halls collected food in barrels placed at each hall’s front desk prior to students going home for the summer. Motuliak said many students donated food that likely would have been thrown away.

“But it was obvious that some of the students even went out and purchased food specifically for this campaign,” she said. “That was very sweet of them.”

Purdue University Residences was invited to participate by Food Finders Food Bank volunteer Jennifer Barth, a freshman from Houston, who lives in Purdue’s Shreve Hall. Barth, who volunteered at food banks throughout high school, continued to serve as Food Finders Food Bank’s liaison with Purdue housing officials throughout the campaign.

“Young people can make a big difference in their community,” Barth said. “I’m glad I was able to help my fellow students make an immediate impact for those in need.”

The food bank will distribute items to food pantries, homeless shelters, senior centers and other such facilities in a 16-county region that stretches between the perimeter of the Indianapolis and Chicago metropolitan areas. Allyson Hodge, Purdue University Residences director of community relations, said she is proud of Barth’s accomplishment.

“It’s exactly that kind of leadership we work to instill in our nearly 12,000 residents through an array of charitable activities throughout the school year,” Hodge said. “Through projects like ‘Battle of the Barrels,’ our residents get to learn one of the most important lessons of college: how to become a better global citizen.”

Purdue University, particularly Housing and Food Services, contributes regularly to the food bank. Since December, Food Stores University Residences alone have contributed more than 15 tons.

Food Finders Food Bank is already planning to partner with University Residences residents again next year for the letter carriers’ food drive.

“Their first-year contribution of nearly 4,000 pounds has already proven incredibly valuable,” Motuliak said. “As students become more accustomed to participating, I expect their contributions to grow by leaps and bounds.”

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A break in the rainy weather gave way for a cool and sunny start Saturday morning as local letter carriers collected donations during the annual NALC Letter Carrier’s Food Drive. Food donated by the Lafayette and West Lafayette communities totaled 73,197 pounds. With donations still coming in at Food Finders Food Bank on Olympia Court, totals could reach 75,000 pounds by weeks end.

“We are overwhelmed with the outpouring of generosity from the community,” said Barb Ahler, Executive Director of Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. “The letter carriers and the volunteers really outdid themselves again this year. Those in need in the community will enjoy many nutritious meals because of everyone’s help.”

“We are especially grateful to Marsh Supermarkets for donating the plastic bags as well as the many folks that bundled them so letter carriers could easily distribute.” Said Lesley Morgan, Coordinator for Letter Carriers Branch #466. “40,000 bags and cards were placed in area mailboxes, as a friendly reminder to the public of the food drive.” Food for volunteers was donated by Culvers, Krispy Kreme, Subway, McAllisters Deli, Pizza Hut and Mad Mushroom. “We are grateful to all the volunteers, they work so hard. It is extremely gratifying to see all the people come together for such a great cause.” Volunteer efforts were boosted this year by a great turnout from the construction trades and industrial labor unions in the community, church youth and adult groups and many private citizens.

Food donated in the spring is especially helpful to Food Finders as it works to provide food to children who would have access to the reduced and free lunch programs during the school year, but have no supplemental meals during the summer break. Many others in the community on fixed incomes or with low paying jobs benefit as well.

Food Finders Food bank is a humanitarian organization that provides food to more than 170 agencies in 16 mid-north Indiana counties. Agencies such as food pantries, homeless shelters and emergency feeding programs received more than 2.3 million pounds of product annually from Food Finders. For more information or to make a donation, contact Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. at (765) 471-0062 or visit www.food-finders.org