Story by: Jamie Browder

To prepare for another semester for providing services to students such as food and hygiene products, UM’s student counseling services hosted a food drive before the holiday break. 

The drive began on Nov. 23 and will conclude on Dec. 13. Items can be taken directly to the counseling services offices. 

To collect items to give to students, the department set up a decorated Christmas tree in front of the stage in Farmer Hall. The tree was built by UM’s physical plant.

The tree itself is decorated with various items that counseling services needs for students. 

“We’re trying to make sure it’s equally based between meats, vegetables, and starches so there can be a complete nutritional package of items that we can give to students,” said Alesia Griffen, coordinator of case management and prevention.

The pantry itself is available to students on a needs basis. Students who feel like they need assistance can visit the counseling services office. Someone in the office will do an intake assessment to determine how the student’s needs can be best met with resources both on and off campus. 

Although the food drive technically ends on the 13th, counseling services will continue to accept donations until campus officially closes on the 16th. 

Counseling services will open again in January in its new location in Puryear House.