Tennessee College of Applied Technology celebrated the anniversary of SkillsUSA by helping combat hunger.
“Our SkillsUSA students hosted a food drive last week and collected over 450 items, which is great for one week,” said Sharon Barnes, instructor at TCAT.
SkillsUSA was founded 52 years ago on May 8, 1965. The program is a national partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.
In lieu of cake and ice cream to celebrate the occasion, faculty and staff partnered with McMinnville Post Office with its 25th anniversary Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive – the country’s largest single-day food drive.
Stamp Out Hunger took place Saturday. TCAT’s donation was made at the post office Friday morning.
TCAT student John Chamberlin, who volunteered to load the items into the vehicle and help drop them off, says the number is closer to 500 items and revealed the secret behind the high student participation.
“It was just under 500 items, which isn’t bad for one week,” said Chamberlin. He jokingly added, “We were motivated. There was some bribing going on with extra credit.”
In Warren County, 5,420 individuals, including 2,250 children are considered food insecure.