California State University, Northridge’s volunteer program Unified We Serve will present the seventh-annual campus clothing and food drive from Nov. 9–18.

Student volunteers will collect clothing and canned goods across the CSUN campus to benefit local families in need. All proceeds will be donated to Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND), a nonprofit organization that aims to provide less-fortunate families with basic necessities.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the drive, Unified We Serve volunteers will collect donations in front of the Delmar T. Oviatt Library. Also, collection bins for students, faculty and staff to donate will be located at the University Student Union welcome desk, Bayramian Hall, the Matador Involvement Center, the first floor of Sierra Hall and the Student Housing Community Center (dorms).

“This project is a great opportunity to unify the campus community,” said Maria Elizondo, coordinator of Unified We Serve. “Not only is this project an amazing opportunity for our campus to be involved, but it also allows us the opportunity to be involved in a manner where we can contribute to our community.”

The 2014 food drive amassed a record 10,245 donations. This year, Elizondo said, the aim is to once again exceed 10,000.

“Our goal is always to surpass the collections of the previous year,” she said. “As with previous years, this is a collaborative, campuswide effort and we have partnered with various departments to make this goal a reality.”

CSUN sociology professor James Ballard already has put the goal within reach by collecting more than 3,000 donations, and he will continue to collect until the end of the drive, Elizondo said.

CSUN Athletics, which has partnered with Unified We Serve for this event, will accept donations at women’s volleyball games on Nov. 10, 13 and 20. All three games begin at 7 p.m., and the first 200 fans will receive free admission with a donated canned food item. Other partners include the University Student Union and Residential Life.

To conclude the food and clothing drive on Wednesday, Nov. 18, the donated goods will be displayed on the steps of the Oviatt Library at noon.

CSUN, food drive, Unified We Serve