(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) – The holidays are a time to give thanks and appreciate the blessings in one's life. The members of the USA South Athletic Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) realized that not everyone is as fortunate as they are and wanted to do something to help make it a happier holiday in their communities. And so Cans Across the Conference was initiated in 2004.

SAAC organized the canned food drive as a community service competition amongst the ten institutions in the USA South.  Each campus SAAC collected cans and other non-perishable items at their school from to benefit a local charity. It was up to each institution to decide how they wanted to collect and to which group the donation would go. The institution with the most items collected would be crowned the Cans Across the Conference Champion. 

Overall, the USA South institutions collected a Conference record 29,303 items, shattering the old record set last year by 6,496! Over the six-year history of the program, USA South Conference institutions have donated 114,227 items to various organizations. With an grand total of 9,797 items, Shenandoah University is the Cans Across the Conference Champion for 2009. The Hornets are winners for the first time and will be presented the Cans Across the Conference Trophy at a later date. Two-time winner Greensboro College collected 6,172 items to finish second while Ferrum's 4,456 items rounded out the top-three.

Each institution donated their items to various organizations in their local communities. Averett University donated its cans to God's Storehouse, a food bank for the less fortunate in Danville, Va. Christopher Newport University made a large donation to the Peninsula Food Bank in Newport News, Va. Ferrum shared its donation with four local food banks. Greensboro made its donation to the local Urban Ministry. Mary Baldwin College donated its cans to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Meredith College gave its collection to the BackPack Buddies Program through the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. Methodist University donated its items to the Fayetteville Urban Ministries. N.C. Wesleyan College sent its items to the Englewood Presbyterian Church Food Pantry in Rocky Mount. Peace College shared its collection with the Raleigh Urban Ministries. Finally, Shenandoah gave its winning total to the local Salvation Army and various food banks in the northern Shenandoah Valley.

"Our SAAC initiated the "Cans Across the Conference" food drive six years ago to assist those less fortunate in their communities," stated USA South Commissioner Rita Wiggs. "I am glad to see that our student-athletes, coaches and administrators recognize a need in their communities and support this initiative to enhance the holidays for our fellow citizens."