SFA’s Jack’s Council on Family Relations feeds 137 families through Thanksgiving Homebound

As part of their annual Thanksgiving Homebound food drive, members of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Jack’s Council on Family Relations collected and donated food to 137 families, which is the most families this drive has served since it began in 2011.

JCFR is a student organization focused on building networks and helping families within the community. It is part of SFA’s School of Human Sciences.

“Our goal is to give back to the Nacogdoches community,” said Lindsey Lightfoot, JCFR president and human development and family studies major. “Sometimes Thanksgiving can be overlooked, and I think this project is a great reminder to help families, be thankful and remember the real reason for the holiday.”

Representatives from the Greater East Texas Community Action Program Head Start, East Texas Family Crisis Center and Solid Foundation visited the SFA campus Monday to collect the donations. Each organization will distribute the food to the selected families. Members of SFA’s Interfraternity Council also assisted with loading the boxes of food.

Food items were collected from university departments, clubs and organizations, and local businesses. Through this project, JCFR matches participants with families and sends participants a description of a family and a checklist of items to purchase. The checklist includes grocery items, such as potatoes, cornbread mix, vegetables and dressing. Participants also are asked to purchase a $25 gift card to help their family buy perishable items, such as meat, butter, milk and eggs.

“This has given me a great outlook on the community of Nacogdoches. I’ve seen so many local organizations come together to provide meals for these families,” Lightfoot said.

To learn more, visit sfasu.edu/hms/125.asp.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.