RSCC – Tennessee’s community colleges and TCATs launched the 27th annual Food Drive Challenge earlier this month, collecting food and cash donations for campus pantries and local food bank programs.

Roane State is participating in the friendly competition as the reining Tier 1 community college champion, having reported the most donations in its respective category last year.

“These donations help us support students through the holidays and beyond, because we all know food insecurity doesn’t end with the ringing in of a new year,” said Dr. Lisa Steffensen, Roane State’s dean of students. “We’re so grateful for the generosity of our community.”

Donations of food items are being accepted at the college’s full service campus pantries in Roane County, Oak Ridge, Morgan County, and Cumberland County during regular open hours. All items must be collected by December 5, 2025.

Participants can also make monetary donations to Roane State Foundation online by designating their gift for the food pantry. Donors may specify a pantry location or make it a general gift. Every dollar donated counts as two units of food.

TBR’s Food Drive Challenge was created in 1999 by the Student Government Presidents Council – student leaders from across the state – as a project to help fellow students and others in their communities in need. Students have kept the food drive going for 27 years, competing in tiers based on enrollment size to see which college can collect the most.

Over the years, more than 1.8 million items and funds converted to items have been collected. During the 2024 campaign, the equivalent of nearly 111,000 items were donated.

A 2023 report, Food Insecurity and Higher Education, by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) cited a considerable body of research concluding that students experiencing food insecurity are less likely to excel academically and more likely to report stress levels that hinder their ability to focus on their studies.

Donations to the Roane State Food Pantry are appreciated year round. All items are free and available to students from any campus. For more information on this resource, visit roanestate.edu/foodpantry.