Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: News

Students walk past a food drive box in the Student Recreation Center on Monday afternoon. The Student Athlete Advisory Committee is sponsoring the food drive and has boxes spread throughout campus.(Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News)

The Student Athlete Advisory Council wants to help out Charleston in return for the community's continued support at games and athletic events.

The SAAC will do so by sponsoring a canned food drive through Nov. 20.

Brenton Emanuel, SAAC's adviser, said this is the first year the organization has made its food drive known campuswide.

"We previously did one with the athletic department, but we want to make it a big push to get the whole campus involved," he said.

The SAAC is an organization that represents student athletes on campus by going over issues about education and athletic performance.

All donations made from the canned food drive will go directly to the Charleston Food Pantry.

Emanuel said this year he has heard the pantry is low on donations and thought it was a great idea to lend a helping hand.

"Why not help someone who is in town?" he said.

Emanuel said when it comes to the general student body, everyone should be willing to give something to those who are in need.

"Instead of throwing that food away, you can give it to the families and donate it to people who do not have anything," he said. "You may not get that 'Thank you' in person, but people are still really grateful."

Maggie Kloak, president of the SAAC and a student-athlete for the women's basketball team, said the athletes take pride in helping out their community.

"We want to help this community that supports us," she said. "We have to give back to the community who does so much for us, and that is one of the main reasons we are doing this."

For individuals who want to donate, numerous drop box locations are placed throughout campus such as in academic buildings, residence halls, the Student Recreational Center and the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union. Yellow fliers are posted by the locations with an arrow pointing down toward the drop box.

For donating, one can receive benefits such as discount tickets on sporting events and chances to enter into a raffle to win prizes.

Kloak said this is the first year she has felt the SAAC has become established across campus.

"This is my first year on the executive board, and we are excited about establishing this organization by helping others," she said. "We all want to transform SAAC into something positive."

Kloak said the organization is working hard to bring the entire Charleston community together.

"This year we want to bring the athletes together plus the student body plus the community," she said.

More involvement and participation by athletes this year in community service has helped, Kloak said.

"So many people are just involved this year, which makes it so much easier," she said. "Within the SAAC community, we wanted members to bring two cans or $2. Slowly but surely, we are getting feedback."

Kloak is looking beyond athletes and into the student body for more support.

"As a basketball player, I know we get a lot of support from our students, so we knew they would be willing to help us out," she said.

Emanuel said athletes across campus should work with the student body more often on certain events and programs.

"I think it helps (athletes) communicate with different types of people because as an athlete, you are kind of stuck with your team a lot during the day," he said. "So this gives them a chance to meet other people around campus."

Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or jmleggin@eiu.edu.

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