Reach 13,000, the largest group service project at UALR, is an annual campaign where students lead the campus community in collecting food for the needy and approximately 200,000 hungry children in the state.

The first opportunity to give back through the campaign this year will be during the kick-off and kickball tournament for the annual Reach 13,000 Food Drive 5 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, at UALR’s Coleman Sports and Recreation Complex.

Students may sign up their team at 2K13K Kickball Tournament. The cost is $60 or 60 non-perishable food items.

Though student led, the food drive is a campus-wide venture.

“If every student, staff member, and faculty member donated just one non-perishable item each, we would exceed our goal of 13,000 non-perishable items,” said Nick Steele, coordinator of UALR’s Chancellor Leadership Corps.

Any non-perishable item can be donated for the food drive Aug. 18 through Nov. 15. There will be several on-campus locations accepting donations, including the big display in front of the UALR Bookstore and several boxes placed in high-traffic areas.

All items will be donated to the Arkansas Food Bank and the UALR Staff Senate Helping Hands.

There will be additional food-collecting events this fall, including Constitution Day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Donaghey Student Center and The Battle of Talents at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, in the DSC fieldhouse.

Steele said one in three households experience hunger, but it only takes $1 to provide three meals.

For more information call 501.569.8240 or email the CLC Office at CLC@ualr.edu.