General | 12/12/2015 4:33:00 PM

A Knox College team rang up a score bigger than all of its eight competitors combined.

Now, the winners of the 2015 Midwest Conference Canned Food Challenge—Knox's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Blessings in a Backpack—would be happy if everybody else stole their game plan.

"Knox found success in partnering SAAC with Blessings in a Backpack," a student organization on campus with extensive experience and a strong record of success in combating hunger in the community, said Kaly Davidson, Knox College SAAC Canned Food Organizer.

Teaming up with Blessings in a Backpack, SAAC gained "more advertising and collectors at various sporting events," Davidson said. "We collected a huge amount, providing more food to those in need around the Galesburg area."

During the month-long food drive, Knox students collected 4,037 non-perishable food items along with cash donations of $3,278. Each dollar in cash counted as two non-perishables, giving Knox a point total of 10,593—more than all eight other conference schools combined.

"This food drive isn't for the college, it's for the people we are helping," Davidson said. "At the end of the day, I'm proud to be a part of SAAC and the opportunity I have to make a difference."

In all, the nine participating Midwest Conference colleges collected 10,993 non-perishable food items and $4,583 in cash, donated to food pantries in their respective communities.
 

2015 Midwest Conference Canned Food Challenge
School	Cans	Cash	Points
Knox	4,037	$3,278	10,593
Ripon	1,706	$462	2,630
Grinnell	1,522	$472	2,465
Illinois Coll.	1,771	$120	2,011
Monmouth	901	$95	1,091
Lake Forest	778	0	778
Lawrence	99	$145	388
St. Norbert	119	$12	143
Beloit	60	0	60