SAAC Website

Stony Brook, N.Y. — Stony Brook’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) collected nearly 900 food items for the on-campus food pantry during its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, the largest donation of the semester to the pantry. 

The on-campus food pantry benefits Stony Brook students, faculty and staff suffering from food insecurity. 

The Seawolves, in conjunction with the Marketing department, spent the entire month of November collecting non-perishable food items at local grocery stores and select men’s and women’s basketball games and making personal donations. During their time at local grocery stores, the student-athletes had touching experiences with members of the community.

“While collecting food at a grocery store, I was really taken aback when a man said he wanted to fill up a cart,” shared Stony Brook volleyball middle blocker Evann Slaughter. “I pushed a shopping cart, and we went up and down the aisles and just threw things in the cart. The man wanted to grab the best, healthiest options to donate and did not even buy anything for himself! 

“I am extremely proud to be a part of something like this. One day, I hope to be able to do that for someone else. Seeing his act of kindness made everyone on the team feel great about what we were doing.”

The initiative was spearheaded by the Thanksgiving Food Drive Planning Committee, which included Taylor Gillie of the volleyball team, Shannon Grogan of the women’s soccer team and Adam Davies of the men’s track & field team. 

The top team contributors were football, softball, volleyball and women’s cross country/track & field.