RCC Foundation drive raises a ton of food

By Miranda Baines

Published: August 28, 2008

Rockingham Community College donated a ton of food – literally—to the Rockingham County Chapter of the American Red Cross on Thursday. The 2,800-pound food donation was part of the RCC Foundation’s annual fund drive.

“We try to get as much participation as possible from all the employees,” said Coe Ann Trent, co-chairwoman. “There’s a friendly competition going on, and it’s for a worthy cause this year.”

Departments at RCC competed to see who could bring in the most food. Administration was first, averaging 48.6 pounds of food donations per employee. The community workforce and education division was second, averaging 36.7 pounds per employee. J.A. King Scales Co. donated the scales to weigh the food and joined RCC in making a donation to the Red Cross.

“Together, we can make a difference,” Gaye Barbour Clifton, director of the RCC Foundation, said, echoing the theme of the drive.

“The college raised $15,963 for RCC Foundation’s programs. This is the first time that RCC has donated to a charitable organization in conjunction with the Foundation drive. The idea came from Diane Hyler, development and Foundation assistant at RCC, who began asking people on campus to donate food last spring.

“For 42 years, the community has been very supportive of RCC. We saw a need, so we decided to give back to the community,” said Clifton.

“It is indeed rewarding in these difficult times to see our faculty and staff pull together and respond to a need in the community,” said Dr. Robert Keys, president of RCC.

Bobbie Seagraves, executive director of the Red Cross, is happy to see RCC donate food to the Red Cross pantry.

“What has taken place today has just been a Godsend. It’s a blessing. If this was not taking place, we would not have food to give out tomorrow.”

Seagraves said the 2,800 pounds of food would last three or four weeks in the pantry.

“There has been a 42 percent increase from last year in the new clients that we serve,” she said. “We give out about 1,300 bags of groceries every month.”

Seagraves said the month-long closure of the Lord’s Food Pantry in Eden placed an extra burden on the Red Cross in trying to meet the needs of the community. She said Red Cross’ clients cite lack of decent-paying jobs and the rising cost of everything from food to gas to utilities as reasons for getting food from the pantry.

“Our food pantry will keep a child from going to sleep hungry. Our food pantry gives families hope,” said Seagraves. She said some senior citizens face choosing between buying medicine and getting groceries, while some parents have to choose between paying the utility bill and buying food for their children. The Red Cross doesn’t turn away anyone in need.

Seagraves said the economy has been a factor not only in the increase in the Red Cross’ number of clients but also in the quantity of donations the charitable organization receives.

“People are cutting back and charity is one of the first places that are cut,” she said

Staff Writer Miranda Baines can be reached at or 349-4331, ext. 35.