Published on Show Me Mizzou Aug. 27, 2024
Story by Dale Smith, BJ ’88
This year’s Homecoming food drive, dubbed Tiger Food Fight, has its work cut out for it. The 2023 drive tripled the previous year’s take. The new number to beat: 132,579 pounds of food, which includes canned goods and monetary donations converted to food.
As is tradition, last year’s Food Fight organizers asked students to donate cans, which they served up by the pallet, and cash, which they forked over by the thousands. But organizers put the drive over the top by soliciting community organizations, says Julia Delano, a senior from Springfield, Illinois, who helped lead last year’s Homecoming service committee.
Student donations have long been a staple, Delano adds. Last year, student response alone doubled the 2022 drive record of 44,002 pounds. “A lot of Greek houses brought five or six van loads of food to the circle drive in front of the Reynolds Alumni Center,” she says. “We had scheduled 20 minutes for each house to unload, which wasn’t nearly enough.” By the end of the day, the drive had generated 92,579 cans, and monetary donations nearly surpassed the equivalent of another 30,000 pounds. “It was a chaotic and emotional day, but it felt great being part of it.”
The second course came from Columbia Public Schools, which generated 9,889 pounds in cans and cash. The biggest single donor was Ridgeway Elementary School, with 747 pounds. Principal Taryn Brinlee, MA ’18, incentivized donations with rewards of popcorn, popsicles and extra recess time. Parents crafted collection “monster” boxes with googly eyes, construction paper faces and windows where students tracked progress. “Almost every kid contributed,” Brinlee says.
As a thank-you, Tiger Food Fight organizers and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics staged a parade at Ridgeway. Truman appeared, followed by cheerleaders and athletes. Hugs and high-fives were shared all around as the group mingled on the playground.
All drive proceeds go to The Food Bank, which helps feed people in 32 counties in Central and Northeast Missouri and includes Mizzou’s Tiger Pantry.
“One little act of kindness has a ripple effect,” Brinlee says. “Even one person can make a difference.” That includes alumni, regardless of where they live, Delano adds. To pitch in, visit mizzou.com/homecoming.
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