FOREST, Va. — This fall, the ODAC once again joined together for its annual canned food drive, a conference-wide initiative organized by member school Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC). Over the course of the drive - which ran from September 1 through November 21 - ODAC student-athletes and campus communities stepped up in a big way to support local pantries and service organizations. In total, ODAC institutions collected more than 36,000 non-perishable food items.
Guilford College led the campaign by collecting 11,275 items to claim the top spot in the friendly conference-wide competition. Finishing in second place was Virginia Wesleyan University with 5,662 items followed by Bridgewater College, which gathered 5,023 canned goods.
Each member institution donated their collections to local organizations chosen by its athletic department. The beneficiaries included food banks, community centers, and other charitable agencies across North Carolina and Virginia. The local organizations where the ODAC institutions donated their contributions are listed below.
- God’s Storehouse
- Blue Ridge Food bank
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Verona
- Second Harvest Food Bank in Greensboro
- Quaker Cupboard
- Feeding Southwest Virginia
- Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Lynchburg
- Hanover Safe Place
- Salem/Roanoke County Food Pantry
- Bright Futures Frederick/Winchester
- Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Amherst County
- Heritage United Methodist Church
- Rockbridge Area Relief Association
Looking ahead, the ODAC will plan its next conference-wide community service initiative as part of Division III Week, scheduled for April 6-12, 2026.