ORANGE BEACH, AL— Columbia Southern University (CSU) recently reached out to the local community by donating approximately 5,000 cans of food and $1,000 to Foley Elementary.

CSU employees delivered the cans and the monetary donation to Foley Elementary principal William Lawrence, with Baldwin County School Superintendent Alan T. Lee in attendance, on Nov.  23.

Fourth-graders in the Student Advisory Council, counselors Brooke Waters and Shannon Little, Lawrence and Lee joined CSU employees in unloading the canned goods in the school gym.

“We saw this as one of the greatest needs in our area,” said CSU employee Jon Klover. “They have about 1,175 students and 78 percent receive free and reduced lunches.” Klover and staff members from the CSU Maintenance, Partnership Development and Human Resources Departments helped organize the food drive.

The canned goods were distributed among 70 families as part of a Thanksgiving “Turkey Take-out” dinner organized by Foley Elementary and many volunteers, explained Lawrence. A portion of the $1,000 went toward the dinner and the remainder will be placed in a family assistance fund.

“We have about 78 percent poverty in our school,” said Lawrence. “So, all types of emergencies come up.  Sometimes the families come to us for help. The children need clothing, shoes or a family needs help with bills … we use the funds to try to help them.”

Lawrence added that Foley Elementary has enjoyed a two-year relationship with CSU.

“We really appreciate CSU and all the participating churches in Foley that helped make this project a reality.” Next year, he hopes to double efforts by assisting 140 or more families.

CSU also plans to open its heart again to the elementary school during Christmas by donating to a “weekend backpack” food program and a teacher “wish-list” program.

CSU, based in Orange Beach, was established in 1993 as one of the nation’s first completely online universities. Serving a record enrollment of more than 25,000 students, the university offers associate, bachelor, master, doctoral and certificate programs.

For more information, visit www.ColumbiaSouthern.edu.