“Ticket to Give” Food Drive returns for 2024 holiday season

(October 15, 2024) - Clayton State’s Dept. of Public Safety is once again teaming up with the university’s Division of Student Affairs to bring holiday relief to all on campus this Thanksgiving.

Chief John Keener, Clayton State’s director of Public Safety, is proudly inviting everyone in Laker Nation to contribute to the university’s second “Ticket to Give” food drive – a month-long food donation forgiveness program that will run from Friday, November 1, through Friday, November 29.

For those on campus with still-unpaid parking tickets, the drive permits all Lakers to earn one dollar of ticket credit per every two ounces of non-expired nonperishable foodstuffs donated.

Students, staff, and faculty may all donate up to 200 oz. in non-perishable foods to receive up to $100 of forgiveness on pre-existing fines.

“The food is again going to our on-campus food bank to raise food for those who face food insecurity in our community,” Keener said. “Last year was very successful. We brought in quite a bit of food that expanded the food pantry. This year, we’re hoping to stuff it full.”

In November 2023, Keener said Public Safety and Student Affairs received more than 600 lbs. worth of food donations, which provided great relief to those in need last holiday season.

The Public Safety Director hopes that with a more extended time frame to organize the event, as well as greater awareness of the food drive, Lakers will help exceed last year’s donation numbers.

Food donations can be made in person at the parking window of the Public Safety Office, located on the second floor in Edgewater Hall.

Keener encourages all on campus to consider donating, regardless of whether donors have pre-existing tickets or not.

“[I believe] people are inherently good in their hearts and want to help other people,” Keener said. “We all face so many different challenges in our lives that sometimes we lose focus of the small things that we can do to help other people. It helps remind people going into the holiday season of what small acts we can take in our lives to make our community that much better.”

For more information on Clayton State University’s Dept. of Public Safety, visit their website here.