This queen-sized quilt is being raffled off by the College of Forestry as part of the OSU Food Drive (contributed photo)

In the 15 years that she’s been quilting, Terralyn Vandetta has yet to make a quilt for herself. All of the intricate, beautiful pieces of fabric art she’s made have gone out the door for a higher cause, to raise funds for things she’s passionate about. And this month, OSU staff and faculty have a chance to win one of two quilts Vandetta made to raise funds for the annual OSU Food Drive.

Anyone familiar with the annual food drive might recognize Vandetta’s name, as she is usually at the front of the room during the award ceremony each year, receiving multiple awards for the College of Forestry, which has dominated the food drive for the last dozen years. In 2001 they took the “Top Banana” award away from the College of Agricultural Sciences and they haven’t looked back, raising the equivalent of 56,962 pounds of food last year. The annual quilt raffle is just one of the ways in which departments within the college raise money each February for the drive.

“There’s always a friendly competition within the college,” between departments, but the ultimate goal, Vandetta said, is to raise as much money and food as possible for the Linn-Benton Food Share. The weekly soup drives are one way in which departments try to out-do each other, but faculty and staff also make sizeable donations through direct deposit contributions ($5,508 last year), which Linn-Benton Food Share administrators say is the best way to make a difference.

The quilt drive began five years ago, as an effort to raise money in a new way. The first two years, about five quilters within the college worked on quilts made from donated fabric, which Vandetta termed ‘potluck quilts’ because of their eclectic appearance. But since then, quilts have been made by one or two individuals, and this year, Vandetta made both quilts, which took her on average 40 hours per quilt.

Terralyn Vandetta in 2009, receiving the Top Banana award for the College of Forestry, which has consistently outpaced all other colleges during the OSU Food Drive since 2001. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

“The raffle motivated me to do something with fabric I’d bought five or six years ago,” she said. “I had a cause to focus on. The food drive and the thought of making money for it definitely is what motivated me to finish the quilts.”

The two quilts she donated are a lap quilt made with batik fabric, and a Queen-sized quilt with a bear paw pattern. She used the help of some mathematically inclined co-workers in the College of Forestry Computing Resources to help her lay out the larger quilt.

Eventually, Vandetta will make a quilt for herself, maybe by next winter. But for now, she’s happy to know that her 80 hours of effort was well spent, and she’s sure she’ll be making more quilts in the future.

“Not everyone in the college who wants one has won yet!”

To see photos of the quilts and find out more about buying raffle tickets: http://deansoffice.forestry.oregonstate.edu/2013-quilt-raffle

For a full list of all events happening around campus in support of the food drive, go to: http://oregonstate.edu/ua/events/food-drive/calendar-events and check out OSU Today each morning for new events.

~ Theresa Hogue

Last year, OSU employees and students raised more than 647,000 pounds of food for the Linn-Benton Food Share. This effort is in conjunction with the Governor’s State Employees Food Drive. The resources gathered by county Extension offices, Experiment Stations, Cascades Campus and Centers associated with OSU go to their local food banks. Proceeds from the OSU Corvallis campus benefit the non-profit agencies served by Linn-Benton Food Share. These agencies include local food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, day care centers, shelter homes, and gleaning groups in Linn and Benton counties.

Due to the economic downturn, food is even more expensive than previous years. That means donations, especially monetary ones, are even more crucial. According to Shelly Signs, OSU Food Drive organizer, there are 89 teams from across campus, as well as extension offices, an experiment station, and several student groups.

“The Oregon State community has historically been very generous during this drive, and I am sure that this year will be no exception,” Signs said. “We’re always amazed at the creative way units raise money and food during the drive, and we’re excited to see what new events spring up during the next month.”

There are a number of ways to participate in this month’s food drive. You can write a check or make a cash donation through your department’s food drive coordinator. You can make a monthly contribution by clicking on the link provided on the food drive home page at http://oregonstate.edu/urm/events/food-drive. You can plan or support a food drive event — there are dozens across campus this year. Or you can bring in canned or dried foods to donate in your office.

For a calendar of events: http://oregonstate.edu/urm/events/food-drive/calendar-events or check OSU Today for daily updates.

To post your own event: http://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0NHIwqLlgMLhCmN

This year's winners for most food and money collected for the annual OSU Food Drive. (photo: Larry Pribyl)

A group of Oregon State employees and students gathered March 14 to celebrate the success of the OSU Food Drive, which broke previous records.

“‘Wow’ seems inadequate, said Mike Gibson, Director of the Linn-Benton Food Share. “You have all done a tremendous job once again and set a new record for the eleventh year in a row.”

The annual drive, coordinated by Kate Sanders of University Events, is held in collaboration with the Governor’s State Employees Food Drive, encouraging state organizations to host food drives to benefit local food banks. OSU will now compete with other state universities and agencies, with results to come later this year.

“The results of the other universities have not yet been published,” says Sanders, “but, every year Oregon State brings in more pounds of food than any other university in the state.”

The totals this year are promising: the drive collected cash donations and food that amounted to just over 644,400 pounds of food, surpassing the initial goal by nearly 64,000 pounds. The event also increased its intake by more than 68,000 pounds from last year, a growth that was certainly welcomed by both Gibson and colleague Ryan McCambridge, coordinator of the Linn-Benton Food Share, who have faced a 12 percent increase in demand from last year.

“The contributions help to purchase the staples needed to fill the nutritious food boxes,” explained Gibson. “With your help we are able to put together boxes that give the recipients food that their bodies need, not just fill them up.”

The resources collected throughout the drive provide 25 percent of the Linn-Benton Food Share’s purchasing dollars for the entire year. In a single month, the Food Share provides food for more than 13,000 individuals, 40 percent of which are children. The food is distributed through 74 member agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, day care centers, shelter homes, and gleaning groups in Linn and Benton Counties.

“The success of the food drive speaks volumes about the strength of community here at Oregon State University,” President Ed Ray told the audience.

President Ray also celebrated the commitment of each of the food drive participants, noting dozens of ways that groups raised funds and collected food including bake sales, spaghetti feeds, silent auctions, and drop boxes.

“This project is excellent because not only does it work to eradicate hunger, it also demonstrates our commitment to each other and to our community,” Ray said.

A wide variety of departments, organizations, and colleges were honored for their participation in the drive efforts. The top earners in each category were as follows:

Off campus: Hatfield Marine Science Center, 3,646 pounds
Student Organizations: Students in Free Enterprise, 13,337 pounds
Team 1, 1-20 employees: Sixth Floor, Kerr Administration, 9,800 pounds
Team 2, 21-50 employees: Chancellor’s Office, 26,037 pounds
Team 3, 51-100 employees: Botany and Plant Pathology, 27,708 pounds
Team 4, 100 plus employees: College of Forestry, 56,962 pounds

~ Jessica Budge

Ryan McCambridge presents the Hope Springs Eternal Award during the OSU Food Drive celebration (photo: Theresa Hogue)

That was the sentiment of Ryan McCambridge, coordinator of Linn-Benton Food Share, as he praised the success of the annual OSU Food Drive, which provides the Food Share with 30 percent of its annual food acquisition budget. Kate Sanders of University Events coordinated this year’s OSU effort.

McCambridge and Mike Gibson, manager of the Linn-Benton Food Share, took part in a ceremony this week honoring the departments and offices that raised the most money and food for the annual drive, which took place during the month of February.

In total, the event gathered more than $100,000 in cash donations and 19,000 pounds of food. By turning the cash into its equivalent in pounds of food, the total equals more than 522,000 pounds of food, which will directly benefit the community.

“Times are tough for everyone these days,” Gibson said, referring to the recession and to OSU’s recent decision to furlough faculty and staff. “And yet you produced the best food drive ever.”

The College of Forestry yet again received top honors for their effort in the annual food drive (photo: Theresa Hogue)

Oregon currently has the second highest rate of hunger in the nation, and more than 11,000 Linn and Benton County residents are listed as unemployed, not including those who are now working part time or have dropped out of the system altogether. Over the last year the Food Share has seen an increase in demand of 1,800 requests for emergency food boxes.

Gibson said there are many sources of support for the Food Share in the community, but none as large as OSU.

“It makes us feel good to know we’ve got the whole community behind us,” he said.

President Ed Ray said hunger has real consequences to a person’s ability to work and learn, and those consequences are long-term. He praised the university community’s increasing support for the food drive, and noted that donations have increased by 100,000 pounds in two years.

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) receive an award from Ryan McCambridge of Linn-Benton Food Share (photo: Theresa Hogue)

A number of departments, organizations and colleges were honored for their food drive efforts. The following are the top earners in each category:

Off campus: Extension Service, Wallowa County, 4,036 pounds
Student Organizations: Students in Free Enterprise group (SIFE), 5,051 pounds
Team 1, 1-20 employees: Sixth Floor, Kerr Admin, 11,335 pounds
Team 2, 21-50 employees: Animal Science, 16,372 pounds
Team 3, 51-100 employees: Botany and Plant Pathology, 24,644 pounds
Team 4, 100 plus employees: College of Forestry, 54,858 pounds

~ Theresa Hogue

Shelly Signs, Director of University Events. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

“This is the 28th year of the food drive and OSU has been amazing at it for years,” said Shelly Signs, Director of University Events. “OSU consistently outpaces the other universities.”

Her office coordinates the annual food drive on campus, and she said when she arrived at OSU four years ago, she inherited a coordinated effort that was already working well.

This year, Signs was asked to be the coordinator for Team Six of the Governor’s State Employee Food Drive, which includes all participating state universities. With a firm knowledge of what already works for OSU, Signs was able to provide advice and assistance to other universities when they needed support. For instance, when one university coordinator needed help figuring out how to implement a payroll deduction program for the food drive, Signs helped her navigate the complexities of the program by explaining how OSU’s payroll deductions work.

“I’m always very open about what we do at OSU,” she said when discussing food drive efforts. “We’re all doing this for a common good.”

Signs also facilitated conversations between coordinators, encouraging them to discuss approaches that worked, and ones that missed the mark. Communication is key to a successful drive, whether that’s communicating with other coordinators or getting your events out to the campus community.

For her efforts with the state drive this year, Signs received a number of e-mails of support from coordinators at other universities, who encouraged her to coordinate Team Six again next year. In total, Team Six raised 872,000 pounds in donations, an increase of 88,000 over last year.

In order to coordinate at the state level, Signs passed the OSU food drive baton to Kate Sanders, who works alongside Signs in University Events. Under Sanders’ coordination, this year’s donations were even higher than last year.

“Her numbers were over the top,” Signs said. The current total is 522,000 pounds, compared to last year’s total of 485,091 pounds.

Signs said OSU’s approach is unique among Oregon universities. While many campuses hold one or two signature events to gather a majority of their donations, OSU has around 90 different coordinators in different departments and colleges across campus who all hold their own events.

“This community is so incredible and giving,” she said, not only in the way of donations, but in their willingness to donate time and energy into planning food drive events, which range from soup lunches to craft sales.

University Events also has two big partners in the campus food drive effort, the Cashier’s Office, which now handles monetary donations, and Campus Freight, which picks up food donations from various offices and weighs and stores the donations until they’re read for pick up by Linn-Benton Food Share. The donations make up one-third of the Food Share’s annual food procurement budget.

Meanwhile, Signs and Sanders are also doing their regular job, which is planning university events. During February, the month of the food drive, they had nine events to plan and implement. This month, as the food drive has ended, they only have three, which is giving them a little room to breathe after all that work, but in event planning, there’s never really down time.

“When is our slow time?” Signs asked, and then laughed. “When it’s slow we’re prepping for everything that’s coming up. We’re constantly on the go.”

~ Theresa Hogue

Terralyn Vandetta received a Top Banana Award for the College of Forestry, which collected the most donations for last year's OSU Food Drive. This year, the College of Forestry topped the charts again. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

Oregon State University’s annual food drive took place in February, and this year’s totals have just been tallied. This year, Oregon State students, staff and faculty raised more than 521,139 pounds of food for the Oregon Food Bank Network, which surpassed the original food drive goal of 485,000 lbs.

The spirit of healthy competition helped drive up this year’s numbers, as did a long list of events aimed at raising money and food donations for the event, including bake sales, craft sales and soup events.

The College of Forestry, which has a reputation for raising the biggest amount during the annual food drive, lived up to that expectation again this year. Always the team to beat, the college raised the equivalent of 54,858 pounds of food (a combination of cash and food donations). The only group to come close to that amount was University Housing and Dining Services, which raised the equivalent of 44,759 pounds of food and gave an additional 940 lbs through their monthly food rescue program in the dining halls.

Donations will directly benefit the community’s most vulnerable residents. Kate Sanders, one of the event organizers, said she was very proud of how the university community stepped up to the challenge.

“If it wasn’t for the dedication and passion of our college and department coordinators, we wouldn’t have come close to raising this much food,” Sanders said. “For the past three years, I have been continuously impressed by OSU’s generosity.”

Ryan McCambridge of Linn-Benton Food Share presents an award to an OSU department to celebrate their record-breaking food drive.

University faculty, staff and students donated the equivalent of 485,091 lbs. of food, an increase of nearly 70,000 lbs. over last year’s total. That includes almost five tons of food for the agencies and programs served by Linn-Benton Food Share, the local food bank, as well as $95,022 in cash and direct deposit donations, compared to $75,124 last year.

The amount is the highest raised among Oregon universities this year during the Governor’s State Employee Food Drive.
Given that at least one in five residents in this area is going to turn to an emergency food pantry sometime during the year, the importance of sustaining the regional food bank cannot be overestimated, said President Ed Ray, who celebrated the achievements of OSU’s Food Drive during a luncheon in the Memorial Union. Mike Gibson, Director of Linn-Benton Food Share, and Ryan McCambridge, Coordinator of Food Share, joined him during the event.

Gibson said that yet again, OSU had exceeded all previous years in their fundraising efforts.

“It is obvious that you know there is a crises and you care enough to devote time and energy to helping,” Gibson told the group, which included a number of organizers of food drive efforts from various departments and colleges around campus.

Linn-Benton Food Share has seen a 15 percent increase in demand for services this year, and January’s demand was up 24 percent from January 2008.

“It has started to tax our resources and this food drive has been a big boon to us,” Gibson said.

The amazing amount of money and food raised was a bright spot amidst a gloomy economic period, Gibson said. Donations from Oregon State University make up one quarter of Linn-Benton’s annual budget.

“All of these efforts are central to making sure food is available to those in need,” Gibson said.

“Hunger is one of the most punishing and intractable problems we have in our society,” President Ray told the audience. Oregon’s high ranking among food insecurity in the nation is not a number we should be proud of, he said. That’s why the effort of the OSU community was so important. The fact that efforts ranging from soup feeds to auctions to karaoke events helped break OSU’s previous food drive fundraising was not lost on the president.

Terralyn Vandetta receives the Top Banana Award for the College of Forestry, which gathered the most donations. (photo: Theresa Hogue)

He told the audience that the food drive represented one of the most complex, well-organized volunteer efforts on campus.
Ray said the campus was setting a strong example to Oregon’s future leaders, who are currently enrolled on campus. By instilling a commitment to service through practice, he said events like the February food drive will demonstrate what can be achieved through concentrated community effort.

“We have to reach beyond our own needs and be attentive to the needs of others.”

~ Theresa Hogue