GALESBURG, Illinois - The Knox College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has teamed up with the Midwest Conference once again to hold the 4th Annual Food Drive. 

The Canned Food Challenge runs from October 17 through December 6. The Knox College SAAC started their drive at the volleyball game on October 17. They will also hold events at the home soccer games on October 21 and the home football game on November 11. Boxes for the canned food can be found at various locations around campus.

During the Challenge, each institutional SAAC has four weeks to collect as many non-perishables as possible and donate them to a local food bank, shelter or pre-determined agency of need. MWC SAAC Canned Food representatives are responsible for reporting a weekly and cumulative count to the Conference Office each Wednesday. Weekly updates and final results are posted on the league website each Thursday.
 
To accommodate for the varying academic schedules of the participating institutions, each SAAC is able to identify its start date within a larger window spanning from mid-October to early December. Once an institution activates its campaign, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee has four weeks to collect as many non-perishable food products and/or monetary donations as possible. The Midwest Conference will post tabulated results on its website on the following dates:
 
Thursday, November 17
Thursday, November 24
Thursday, December 1
Thursday, December 8
 
In its first three years, the Challenge resulted in 26,584 non-perishable food items and just over $7,000 being donated.
 
This year, MWC Executive Director Heather Benning added a special enhancement to the Challenge. Benning will contribute 5 cents on every donation up to $750 if all 10 member institutions participate and finish the Challenge with an equivalency number greater than 1000. Her matching donation will be made in the name of the Midwest Conference SAAC to the American Red Cross, splitting the donation equally between relief for Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Harvey.
 
The 2017 Canned Food Challenge winner will be announced in conjunction with the final results on Thursday, December 8. The SAAC representatives from the winning institution receive a banner to display in their athletic facility.
 
2016 Canned Food Challenge Results
2,865                      Illinois College SAAC
2,012                      Monmouth College SAAC
2,002                      Knox College SAAC
1,915                      Grinnell College SAAC
1,870                      Ripon College SAAC
1,129                      Lawrence University
1,069                      St. Norbert College
    689                     Lake Forest College
    444                     Cornell College
       32                    Beloit College