Dec 3 2008
The College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering's ("CNSE") Nano Graduate Student Organization ("NanoGSO") helped to alleviate food shortages in the Capital Region by sponsoring a Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
Working in partnership with UAlbany's School of Criminal Justice Graduate Student Association ("SCJ GSA") and Five Quad, the NanoGSO helped to collect more than 250 non-perishable food items and nearly $300 in monetary donations.
"The NanoGSO is dedicated to participating in community outreach initiatives, so when the SCJ GSA and Five Quad approached us about co-sponsoring the food drive, we jumped at the chance," said CNSE student Ben Backes, a M.S. candidate in Nanoengineering. "Since this was our first year participating in a Thanksgiving food drive, our primary goal was to raise awareness about the Regional Food Bank among the UAlbany community."
Students placed fliers and donation boxes throughout CNSE's Albany NanoTech Complex, where they accepted non-perishable items such as tuna, canned meat, peanut butter and canned stews to be sent to the Regional Food Bank.
"We were pleased with the donations we received and are already working on the campaign for next year," said Backes.