The Troy University Student Nursing Association is hosting a canned food drive to donate to the Salvation Army before Thanksgiving.

“Our Student Nursing Association tries to be active in the community,” said Kelli Cleveland, BSN program coordinator and assistant professor at the School of Nursing. “It makes them feel good and it makes us feel good as sponsors of the Student Nursing Association.”

The drive is targeted toward students in the university’s nursing program, but it has spread across campus, and Cleveland hopes it will continue to spread into the community.

“It’s mainly for nursing students and anyone else that comes into our building for classes,” Cleveland said. “Anybody across campus or in the community that wants to give is welcome. It’s open to anybody.”

Cleveland said that the nursing students that are in Greek organizations have spread the word to their fraternities and sororities, and they have jumped on board, as well.

The food will be delivered to the Salvation Army at the end of next week so that the food can be distributed for the Thanksgiving holiday.

“Nursing is considered a caring major, in my opinion,” Cleveland said. “We are supposed to be caregivers to everybody. That doesn’t just mean our patients, but the people around us, as well. I believe that we are here to help other people.”

The nursing program also hosted a blood drive this week, aiming to beat their goal of 101 units of donated blood. The drive was held Tuesday and Thursday, and 102 units were given, reaching their goal.

“We feel like we are fulfilling a need, whether it’s giving blood or donating food to someone who won’t have anything to eat this holiday,” Cleveland said.