CSU Donates More than 3,000 Canned Goods to Turkey Take-Out

Columbia Southern University (CSU) employees reached deep into their wallets and cupboards to donate more than 3,000 canned goods to the annual Turkey Take-Out food drive conducted by Foley (Ala.) Elementary School and South Baldwin area churches and community groups.

"Once again Columbia Southern University has come through for us with Turkey Take-Out,” said Foley Elementary Principal William Lawrence. “These hundreds of cans are going to help feed over 1,100 people… and these are the neediest of the needy.”

"We are always excited to help those families in need at Foley Elementary and in our local community and provide this valuable service. This is a special cause for CSU that is near and dear to our hearts, especially during this time of year,” said CSU Director of Employee Activities Vicki Barnes, who led the university effort.

Turkey Take-Out was established to provide families with a meal on Thanksgiving Day as well as non-perishable food items to fill their pantries. Turkey Take-Out is a community partnership of businesses, churches and organizations with Foley Elementary School that began after local pastoral leaders and citizens learned of the severe need of many of the elementary school’s students.

CSU’s various departments competed to see which could collect the most canned goods and the Academic Advising and Student Support Center won with more than 1,300 items collected.

“We consider our staff and faculty family and we are all in this together,” commented CSU Senior Vice President Chantell Cooley. “I love how they all came together to support this cause.”

Cooley pointed out that since its inception under her father Robert Mayes Sr., CSU has enjoyed giving back to the community. “So this is just part of our legacy at Columbia Southern University — to get our faculty and staff involved in giving back, especially now with Thanksgiving coming up. We want to support our community.”

Lawrence expressed appreciation for the donation from the online university.

“Everything Columbia Southern University has done for this donation will make a major difference in the lives of families here in South Baldwin County. We appreciate what the employees and the university have done and are doing to be part of this community by making a difference in the lives of these families,” Lawrence added.

Turkey Take-Out was established to provide families with a delicious meal on Thanksgiving Day as well as non-perishable food items to fill their pantries. Turkey Take-Out is a community partnership of businesses, churches and organizations with Foley Elementary School that began after local pastoral leaders and citizens learned of the severe need of many of the elementary school’s students.

To learn more about Turkey Take-Out and donate, visit www.turkeytakeout.com

Columbia Southern University offers online certificate and degree programs in various fields such as fire administration, human resource management, organizational leadership and business administration.

For more information about CSU, visit www.columbiasouthern.edu or call 800-977-8449.