Indiana State University Newsroom

November 12 will mark the ninth annual Jam the Bus food drive hosted by Indiana State’s Hulman Memorial Student Union Board. Students, staff and community are encouraged to bring their nonperishable food items to the Dede Plaza fountain in hopes of filling an athletic bus with donations. Contributions to the event will benefit the Terre Haute Catholic Charities Food Bank.

The event is hosted in order to “help give to those in need and to raise awareness about hunger in the Terre Haute community,” coordinator of the event, senior criminology and psychology major from Westville, Ashley Haack, said. Sodexo and several other sponsors will also help put on the event.

“Jam the Bus is exciting to campus because it not only provides opportunities for community service, but gives students and faculty a fun way to give back,” Haack said. “They can come to our event and hang out with Sycamore Sam and Union Board and can also participate in several contests and win prizes.”

Before the home ISU football game on Nov. 8, donations will be accepted from noon-1 p.m. at the stadium gate. Canned food, checks or spare change are accepted. 

This year Union Board has challenged university offices to collect food items for Jam the Bus. On Nov. 12, the office which collected the most food items will be awarded a catered luncheon courtesy of Union Board.

A residence hall contest will challenge students living on campus to compete against other residence halls. Whichever hall raises the most donations will be rewarded with a root beer float party. Another contest among students involved in Greek Life will reward the chapter that earns the most donations by giving a $50 contribution to their philanthropy.

“[Jam the Bus] makes community service much more meaningful to students because they can actively participate and see the results of their efforts directly with the amount of food we raise,” Haack said.

Jam the Bus has not only grown in its popularity on campus, but also in the amount of food it has raised for the Catholic Charities Food Bank beginning with over 700 pounds in its debut to campus in 2005. Since then, the event has raised over 5,000 pounds in 2010 and reaching its all time high last year after raising over 8 tons (19,744 pounds) of food.

This year, Union Board hopes to raise over 10 tons of food by initiating fun ways for students to get involved as well as provide more opportunities for participation.

In addition to providing food items, those on campus and in the community can make monetary donations to any of the several barrels that will be placed around campus at the beginning of November.

“Students can also [donate] when they buy food at the participating restaurants in [HMSU] or may purchase coffee for $1 at the Campus Cupboard,” Haack said.

Students can begin participating at several locations starting now, as well as help out with contributions during Jam the Bus which will be held at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dede Plaza on Nov. 12.