Food run

For the sixth consecutive year, the Wright State University Police Department organized in a No-Shave November fundraising effort that benefited the Raider Food Pantry.

On Nov. 4, officers filled their police cruisers with items purchased from Sam’s Club in Beavercreek, then donated to the pantry almost $1,800 worth of nonperishable goods, including chicken noodle soup, beef stew, cereal, peanut butter crackers and much-needed bottled water.

“This year we had the entire department involved,” said Kurt Holden, chief of police and director of public safety at Wright State. “Answering the need in our community is what we do.”

Every officer and staff member in the Wright State Police Department participated by donating $100 with an option to grow their facial hair, wear colorful hair accessories or paint their nails during November.

Officer Stefan Kempf was voted as having the best-looking beard by the Police Department staff. Kempf said the department’s mission to help ensure students have a meal also helps them in the classroom.

“No one is going to be studying well if they’re hungry,” said Kempf.

Over the past six years, the Police Department has donated more than $16,000 in groceries and money to the Raider Food Pantry.

Tylar O’Neal-White, a student case manager in Counselling and Wellness Services, oversees the Raider Food Pantry, which serves around 100 Wright State students every month. The donations from the Police Department arrived just in time to restock the pantry’s dwindling supplies.

“With them donating as much as they do, it really pushes us through to the spring semester,” said O’Neal-White

The Wright State Raider Food Pantry serves all students in need of emergency food assistance. The food pantry is open to any Wright State student enrolled in classes for the current term. Students can schedule an appointment online to pick up food.