(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 22,807 items! Over the five-year history of the program, USA South Conference institutions have donated 85,020 items to various organizations. With an grand total of 5,820 items, Christopher Newport University is the Cans Across the Conference Champion for 2008. The Captains, winners of the can drive in 2006 as well, will be presented the Cans Across the Conference Trophy at a later date. Shenandoah University collected 5,467 items to finish a close second while Ferrum's 3,265 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 made its large donation to the Peninsula Food Bank in Newport News, Va. Ferrum College shared its donation with three local food banks. Greensboro College made its donation to the local Urban Ministry. Mary Baldwin College donated its cans to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. Maryville College sent its collection to the Blount County Food Collection. Meredith College gave its collection to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. Methodist University donated its items to the Alms House in Hope Mills, North Carolina. Peace College spread its collection amongst the local Salvation Army, Urban Ministries and Peace College Wellness Center Emergency Food Pantry. Finally, Shenandoah gave its items to the local Salvation Army.

"Our SAAC initiated the "Cans Across the Conference" food drive five 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."