TU canned food drive turned parking fines into 2,606 donations to food pantry
Towson University rolled back parking fines in exchange for canned food donations in 2018. Here's how it went.
By Briana Richert '20 on January 18, 2019
Towson University Parking & Transportation Services and the FoodShare program received more than 2,600 donations of food during the ‘Can Your Citation Food Drive’ in December.
The program — in which students had the opportunity to have their parking fines reduced or waived by donating canned or non-perishable food items — was a success, filling the food insecurity pantry for the Spring semester.
In order to increase donation participation in the food insecurity drive, the staff in TU's Parking & Transportation Services office was inspired by similar programs in creating this event.
Students could donate five items for a $25 reduction, 10 items for a $50 reduction, and 15 items for a $75 waive of citation fees.
The 2,606 food donations resulted in action on 163 citations — meaning $11,605 in fines were either reduced or waived by Parking and Transportation Services.
Pamela Mooney, director of Parking & Transportation Services, thanked not only those who donated goods, but also the devoted team members who worked the event.
“Our team did a great job of overseeing the program and moving box, after box, after box of food to the pantry,” Mooney said.
The event — held amid the holiday season — generated a wave of kindness for those involved, while also bringing awareness to the efforts around food insecurity on campus.
This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland.