Before packing up for Thanksgiving Break, the American Marketing Association is asking students to raid their food pantries and donate their non-perishable items to the less fortunate.

To facilitate the process, the registered student organization will have donation boxes in and around Lumpkin Hall until Nov. 18.

All collected items will be donated to local food pantries in the Charleston and Mattoon areas like the Charleston Area Churches Food Pantry.

Victoria Michels, a senior marketing major, is the president of the association.

“Mainly we pick Thanksgiving because as an American holiday it really focuses on bringing family together and you don’t want people worrying about what food is going on their table,” Michels said. “It’s a time to think about giving back to the community.”

Tom Costello, assistant professor of marketing, is the faculty adviser for the American Marking Association.

“A lot of students have extra non-perishable goods at the end of the semester,” Costello said. “But we move it forward just a little bit because of the importance of Thanksgiving.”

Michels said the American Marketing Association is hoping to collect up to 500 non-perishable items.

“It really depends on the generosity of the people that give,” Michels said. “You’d be surprised (at what is donated)-there’s a lot of soups and veggies.”

The variety of food donated has been great throughout the years, she said.

Michels said she finds this is the time students realize what they will and will not be making while at school.

“Judging from past years, the closer we get to Thanksgiving, the more we will see those boxes full,” Michels said.

She said the organization focuses on year-round philanthropy and not just seasonal.

“AMA (the American Marketing Association) is very involved with philanthropy and we even have two executive positions that are devoted to our community service,” Michels said. “It’s what we do as an Eastern chapter.”

Costello said the association likes to stress that marketing is a profession not just a career.

“Part of being a profession as opposed to just being a career or a job is this idea of community service and giving back,” Costello said.

Michels said she hopes the event receives contributions from people across campus.

“When it comes to the fundraising, we really want to get the entire community involved,” Michels said.

Nike Ogunbodede can be reached at 581-7942 or ovogunbodede@eiu.edu.