William Kelly
Staff Writer
Many organizations at Jackson State University are showing Tiger pride through service and giving during the holiday season.
Organizations including MADDRAMA Performance Troupe, JSU National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), RUF, the JSU Football team and the Class of 2017 have committed to giving back to community and to those in need.
Tamarcus Lott, Mr. MADDRAMA and a sophomore speech communications major from Memphis, Tenn., is all about making a difference in the community.
“MADDRAMA stands for Making A Difference Doing Respectable and Meaningful Art and with the holidays fastly approaching, we felt as an organization, donating food to a needy family would make a meaningful difference in a family’s life,” said Lott.
From Nov. 18-19 in the Student Center, MADDRAMA and the student body came together to support the food drive and had a positive turn out. Community service hours were awarded to those who contributed to the organization.
The Class of 2017 began their canned food drive Nov. 3 and will continue to receive donations through Nov. 21.
The Jackson State University Athletic Academic Enhancement Center hosted a “Turkeys from Tigers” event in which the JSU sports team donated turkeys to Stew Pot Community Services.
The Tigers and Lady Tigers donated 24 turkeys. “That’s a lot of Turkeys,” said Stew pot representative Calvin Doughty. “We will be able to feed a good number of our city’s homeless.”
“We just want to do what we can to help our community, especially during the holiday season,” said Coordinator of Student-Athlete Services Keith Fennell.
With this project complete, the Tigers and Lady Tigers do not plan on stopping there. Future community services projects are already in the works for December.
Kendall Bunch, Sophomore Class President and an accounting major from Olive Branch, Miss., was inspired to donate to Barr Elementary School.
“After visiting a local elementary school and being informed that their students lack a true Thanksgiving due to funds and supplies, my council and I decided there are so many fortunate students at JSU that can help,” said Bunch. “The goal was to be able to feed at least 10 families, but due to there being several drives at once, our goal has not been reached yet.”
Bunch hopes to collaborate with other organizations so that the drives will not conflict in the future.
The JSU NAACP also sponsored a food drive to help needy families.
“The NAACP decided to do a food drive to help make sure the pantry at the Stewpot Community Center is filled and has enough products to feed families over the holidays,” said Robin Jackson, Miss NAACP and a junior political science major from Jackson, Miss.
The NAACP drive will be held today from 12 noon-2 p.m. on the second floor in the Student Center.
RUF is partnering with the Salvation Army this week from Monday –Saturday in their annual Red Kettle fundraiser in the Westland Plaza Shopping Center, located about a mile from campus.
Remember Tigers, it is always better to give than to receive.
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