DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), its student-athletes and the campus community are not ones to forget how fortunate they are. In the spirit of giving back, SAAC is again collecting canned food items as part of the USA South's Cans Across the Conference initiative during the 2015 fall season.

The annual canned food drive, now in its 12th year, kicked off with a dunk tank hosted by SAAC on the university's college night on Sept. 30. Students were given the opportunity to dunk both coaches and administrators, paying $1 for three chances to put their favorite teacher or coach into the water. Proceeds will go to buy canned food items for the drive.

SAAC will also host a Canoween event on Oct. 30. This event will involve SAAC members going door-to-door and asking area residents to donate items.

In addition, drop-off boxes will be located on Averett's main campus on the third and fourth floors of Frith Hall, at Averett Central and on the fourth floor of the student center. Donations will also be accepted at the Grant Center on North Campus and in the football field house. All canned good collected during the Cans Across the Conference drive will be donated locally to God's Store House of Danville.

Averett sophomore Samm Chandler, president of Averett's SAAC, is the first to recognize the blessings each student-athlete has had bestowed upon them.

"As college student-athletes, I consider us very blessed," Chandler said. "We get to play the sport we love at a college level, while getting a terrific education. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

She also pointed out the importance of giving back to the community that supports them and expressed the committee's dedication to making this a successful event.

Averett is competing against the other schools in the USA South Conference. Overall, the USA South institutions collected 25,505 items last fall. Over the 11-year history of the program, USA South Conference institutions have donated 305,187 items to various organizations.

Those interested can contact Chandler at schandler@aumail.averett.edu, Emma Olsson at 434-791-5700, Nicole Barringer at 434-791-5737 or Ashlyn Hardie at 434-791-5869. The deadline for drop offs is Nov. 5.