Student leaders celebrate First Birthday of Hawks Food Drive

Heartland Community College students marked a milestone in their fight against food insecurity. 

In the spring of 2025, the Heartland Community College Student Welfare Committee, a part of the Student Government Association (SGA), launched the Hawks Food Drive. 

Through the drive, student organizers encouraged community members, students, and employees to donate non-perishable food and personal care items to support students in need. The SGA collaborated with other campus organizations, including Student Leaders in Community (SLiCE), Student Engagement, Counseling and Wellness Services, International Student Programs, and Success Connections to support these efforts. 

On March 5, the group celebrated the first “birthday” of the Hawks Food Drive with an event held in the Workforce Development Center on Heartland’s Main Campus. To date, the effort has collected over 2100 food items, which have stocked the college’s food pantry, operated by Student Counseling and Support Services. 

“Access to basic resources like food is fundamental to student success, and Heartland is committed to supporting our fellow Hawks in need,” explains Aemun Lopeyok, SGA Student Trustee. “Through the Hawks Food Drive, SGA is dedicated to fighting food insecurity, promoting awareness, and increasing access to this essential resource. We are seeing the fruits of this work. I encourage my fellow students to take this moment to learn from the Hawks Food Drive, that with patience, change will always come, and its impact on people and the environment compounds in ways that are often life-changing. This is true not only on our campus, but in our communities as well.”

During the 2025-2026 academic year, the Heartland Food Pantry has served over 100 individuals a month, a 164% increase over the previous year.

At the Hawks Food Drive Birthday Celebration, student leaders reflected on the impact made in year one and looked ahead to what’s next. The public was invited to bring a non-perishable donation to the celebration and receive a slice of birthday cake.