Memorial’s Campus Food Bank is preparing to launch its second annual 12 Days of Christmas Food Drive to try and increase donations from faculty and staff.

The 12 Days of Christmas in June Food Drive runs from June 11-26.

Last year, departments, offices and faculties collected thousands of items for the food bank. 

Organizers are once again challenging the university to show their support for the worthy cause.

Units from around the university are being encouraged to “get involved and compete against each other with the winning group receiving a staff lunch,” explained Kenny Curlew, community living programmer with Housing, Food and Conference Services and one of the organizers of the fundraiser.

“The way the food drive works is simple,” he added. “It is based on the 12 Days of Christmas theme. Each day, there is a suggested food item to donate and the quantity requested corresponds to the day of giving. Points will be assigned per item donated with bonus points for collecting the requested amount each day. Bonus points will also be assigned for items donated that aren't on the list.”

Staff and faculty members are not expected to collect all the items the food bank is looking for individually; rather they're being encouraged to collaborate and collect the non-perishable items as a team.

Just as they did last year, volunteers will collect items at the end of the food drive, and tally up results to see which team collected the most.

Memorial's Campus Food Bank is a year-round operation and volunteers always need donations. Mr. Curlew said the summer is a good time to remind the university community that their suppor is appreciated not just during the fall and winter semesters when most students are on campus.

Last year’s food drive was a tremendous success with over 20 departments and units participating. Mr. Curlew hopes this year’s edition will be even more successful.

The following is a listing of the requested items for the 12 Days of Christmas in June Food Drive:

• Day 1 (June 11) 1 package of cereal
• Day 2 (June 12) 2 packages of rice or pasta
• Day 3 (June 13) 3 cans of canned meat
• Day 4 (June 14) 4 one-litre juice packages (orange or apple)
• Day 5 (June 15) 5 cans of fruit (not individual size)
• Day 6 (June 18) 6 boxes of Kraft Dinner
• Day 7 (June 19) 7 cans of peas
• Day 8 (June 20) 8 cans of kernel corn
• Day 9 (June 21) 9 cans of vegetable soup
• Day 10 (June 22) 10 cans chicken noodle soup
• Day 11 (June 25) 11 packages of Mr. Noodles
• Day 12  (June 26) 12 individual juice boxes and/or school snacks

For more information or to arrange pick up of your donations, you can e-mail Mr. Curlew or fellow volunteer Pradeep Bobby.

The Campus Food Bank is open Monday and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. and 7-8 p.m., as well as Sunday from 4-5 p.m. Feel free to contact foodbank@mun.ca for more information on the food bank or to find out how you can help out at other times of the year.