Northwestern Student Athletes to Have Food Drive Feb. 26 to Benefit Campus Cabinet Food Pantry

February 11, 2026

A food drive to benefit the Campus Cabinet Food Pantry at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the Ranger basketball doubleheader. Tip-offs are at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in Percefull Fieldhouse. The Student Athlete Advisory Committee is co-sponsoring the drive with the food pantry. Non-perishable foods and tax-deductible monetary donations will be accepted. Donate two or more items and get in free.

ALVA, Okla. -- The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Campus Cabinet Food Pantry is partnering with Northwestern’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for a monetary donation/non-perishable food drive at the last home basketball games of the season on Thursday, Feb. 26.

The women will tip off at 5:30 p.m. against Oklahoma Baptist University, and the men play at 7:30 p.m.

Brad Franz, vice president for athletics, said anyone who brings two or more items to donate to the campus pantry will receive free admission to the games. Season ticket holders and Northwestern students will be admitted as usual, but are encouraged to donate items to the pantry. Tax-deductible monetary donations are also accepted.

“The Northwestern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is partnering with the campus food pantry to care for our campus family,” said Gretchen Jones, assistant director of athletics for compliance and student athletic services. “With gratitude for the generosity and support of our community, we come together to reduce food insecurity, remove barriers, and ensure that everyone feels supported, valued, and nourished.”

All non-perishable foods will be accepted, but the pantry has provided a “Most Needed Items” list to help fans decide what to bring. A list of the most needed types of non-perishable foods and other items includes:

Chili, peanut butter, grape/strawberry jelly, canned chicken, tuna, Vienna sausages, shelf-stable microwave-ready meals, toaster pastries, cereal, breakfast drinks (chocolate, vanilla), six-packs or boxes of individual bottles of fruit juices (apple, orange) and fruit cups (peaches, pineapple, oranges, apple sauce), soups (vegetable, chicken & rice, chicken noodle, tomato), spaghetti sauce (meat, traditional, cheese, garlic), toilet paper, facial tissues, deodorant for men and women, shampoo/conditioner, body wash (men and women), tampon multi-packs/pads, new bed pillows, new or like new sheets (twin XL and other sizes), new or like new blankets, adult coats/jackets of varying sizes, gloves, stocking hats/beanies and many other items.

Checks should be payable to Northwestern Foundation with Campus Cabinet Food Pantry written on the memo line. Monetary donations may also be mailed to Angelia Case, coordinator of the Campus Cabinet, at 709 Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, OK 73717. Please include a name and address with monetary donations so that a receipt may be sent, especially if donating cash.

“Thank you for donating to our campus food pantry because we can’t help our students and employees in need without your non-perishable food and monetary donations,” Case said.

During the fall 2025 semester, the pantry averaged about 10 clients per week. The highest number of clients that came in one week was 14. The average weekly disbursement in the fall was about 158 pounds, and the highest month of expenditures was in September, with nearly $850 spent on food and other items for pantry clients.

Case explained that although several clients have moved on from Northwestern since the pantry opened on Jan. 16, 2019, it has registered 306 total clients to date, adding 26 new clients so far this school year. More than 32,000 pounds of food and supplies have been disbursed since opening.

More information about needed items or how Northwestern students and employees can use the pantry is available at www.nwosu.edu/campus-cabinet. Also on this web page are “Wish List” links for donors to use to purchase items directly from Walmart (https://bit.ly/campus-cabinet-wishlist) or Amazon (https://amzn.to/3skteAX) and have them sent directly to campus.

More information is available by contacting Case at arcase@nwosu.edu or (580) 327-8577.

-NW-