The bi-annual “Nicholls Can” food drive project is a community service initiative that will involve the entire Nicholls community in donating cans and other nonperishable items, Oct. 1 to 15, to local food banks.
    Jean Donegan, art professor and department head, jumpstarted the idea of the University-wide event last semester.
    The University conducts the food drive twice a year. Donations are split between three of six food banks in the surrounding cities including Thibodaux, Houma, Raceland, Galliano, Morgan City and Dulac.
    “The goal is still to get one item donation per person, but we would love to exceed last year’s total,” Donegan said. “You’re not going to break the bank with one can. I think it’s an achievable goal.”
    Last semester “Nicholls Can” donated 8,018 cans and nonperishable items to the Thibodaux, Raceland and Galliano food banks, and this semester the focus will be on Houma, Dulac and Morgan City.
    “We’re trying to reach the major food banks in the Nicholls area because Nicholls isn’t just about Thibodaux. It’s about all the areas that we serve,” Donegan said.
    All donation totals are split three ways, including cash donations. Cash donations allow the food banks to purchase items that are in high demand.
    “We have a representative in every building on campus,” Donegan said. “The faculty is very enthusiastic. Everybody has the signs and posters up, so we’re really excited to get started.”
    Additional businesses in Houma were also added to the list of 20 participating businesses in the area.
The collection will continue until Oct. 15, which is the final pick-up date for University donations. Greek organizations will retrieve donation boxes from each designated drop-off location.
    Lee Daigle, head of philanthropy for the homecoming committee, said the event is combined with homecoming events this semester.
    “We are including ‘Nicholls Can’ in the homecoming festivities until around Oct. 15., and we’ve designated certain events as drop-off locations,” Daigle said. “It just seemed natural because the events draw such a crowd.”
    Deborah Raziano, director of Alumni Affairs, said the goal of service projects like “Nicholls Can” and the “Paint the Town Red” day of service are not meant to solely benefit the University. She said the main focus is to help others.
    “We’re not asking you to give us money,” Raziano said. “We are asking you to give us food or spare time so that we can help people.”
    Signs, posters and others graphics for the “Nicholls Can” project were designed by art students and members of American Institute of Graphic Arts, and completed under the direction of Trisha Dubina, assistant professor of art.
Donation boxes are in various University departments, the Union and Ellender Memorial Library. Cans and other nonperishable items should be placed in the collection boxes. Other items in high demand at the food banks include toilet paper, shampoo, Kleenex, floor cleaner, bath soap, tooth paste, sanitary napkins, washing powder, Comet and dishwashing liquid because these items cannot be purchased with food stamps.
Cash or check donations may be brought to the art department or Vice President for Institutional Advancement David Boudreaux’s office. Checks should be made to “NSU Foundation – Nicholls Can Food Donation”.
Donegan said the project has been and will be a collaborative effort. Anyone who still wants to be involved should contact the department of art at 448-4595.