Join Us for Swoop’s Annual Holiday Harvest Donation Drive: Share the Joy of Giving!

Swoop’s Food Pantry is hosting its second annual Holiday Harvest Donation Drive. This initiative aims to help students and staff at Eastern Michigan University with their Thanksgiving meals.

Colton Ray and Emily Bryson, graduate assistants at the pantry, organized this event together with students from the Social Work Practice class. They hope to support 100 shoppers this year, providing essential Thanksgiving food items.

The shopping event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, from 4-6 p.m. at the pantry located in Pierce Hall, Room 100. If you can’t make it then, the pantry will also be open on the following Friday from 12-5 p.m., though food availability isn’t guaranteed.

To shop, students and staff must fill out the pantry’s intake form for the 2025-2026 academic year. Ray shared, “Last year, we had 80 visitors in two hours. We’re aiming for 100 this time.”

For those interested in donating, please sign up to indicate what you’ll bring and drop off your items by Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, at Pierce Hall, Room 104. Not available during pantry hours? Email swoops_pantry@emich.edu to arrange another time.

Even if you miss the deadline, donations are always welcome. The pantry accepts both perishable and non-perishable foods, hygiene products, clothing, and more. Check the donation tab for an Amazon wishlist of needed items.

You can also make monetary donations through the Ways to Give page on the EMU Foundation website.

This drive plays a vital role in providing the EMU community with Thanksgiving meals, offering items that are usually harder to find, such as turkey, pies, and other festive foods. Ray explained, “Holidays can be tough for those dealing with food insecurity. Our goal is to ease some of that stress in our community.”

A recent survey showed that 46.5% of EMU students face food insecurity. Swoop’s Pantry is dedicated to fighting that statistic, providing support to students and staff in need.

“Our focus is on helping currently registered students succeed academically and improve their well-being,” Ray added, emphasizing the importance of this initiative.

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