The annual Governor’s State Employees Food Drive kicked off Feb. 1, and coordinators from around the university are planning events and preparing for the annual competition that sees which department can donate the most food to the UO’s overall total.
2018’s top department, UO Foundation, found success with a variety of strategies. The foundation’s work teams compete against each other using a points system, participating in events planned by the department’s social committee.
Examples of events include Bistro Monday, where teams contribute breakfast items each week and colleagues donate cash to enjoy breakfast at work. At the end of the month, the team with the most points gets a shared prize.
Participating in food drive events encourages social cohesion among foundation employees.
“I love the annual food drive because it does so much good and it brings the team together in such a completely different way than happy hours or office parties,” said foundation site coordinator Sandra Anderson. “There’s competition but there’s a generosity of spirit there too.”
While their barrel is prominently positioned in the reception area, Anderson works hard to encourage foundation employees to donate funds in addition to nonperishable food items.
“We stress the money donations more than the canned goods, because of the conversion factor,” said Anderson. Thanks to its consortia agreements with Oregon Food Bank and regional growers, one dollar in an individual’s pocket has the buying power of three dollars for Food for Lane County.
This year, the UO Foundation and University Advancement are collaborating on a new competition that will motivate both divisions to donate. They will hold the “Great Fordish Bake Off,” a competition where employees contribute home-baked goods. Then colleagues from both departments will donate funds to sample and vote for the best bite.
The department with the best baked good will claim 70 perceent of the proceeds — and bragging rights — for their totals. All funds raised go to Food for Lane County.
Anderson is working with members of advancement’s social committee to plan the bake-off competition.
“I’m so pumped about the engagement between the two groups and expanding the spirit of competition,” Anderson said. “At the end of the day, if it raises just a few more dollars and cents, it will be a success. Every little bit counts.”
The Governor’s State Employees Food Drive runs Feb. 1 to 28. For more information, see your department’s food drive site coordinator. If you aren’t sure who that is, email fooddrive@uoregon.edu to get connected.
—By Larissa Ennis, Government and Community Relations