BCCC’s Staff Association led the effort to contribute canned goods and nonperishable food items to the Zion Shelter and Kitchen through a campus-wide competition named Building Relationships.

BCCC students, faculty and staff were encouraged to donate items and arrange those items in a festive holiday display in each campus building. The displays were judged before the items were donated to the shelter prior to the college’s winter break.

BCCC donated some 3,770 items to the shelter, with Building 1 gathering more than 2,100 items in a display titled “Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Pantry,” according to association President JoLinda Cooper. Building 1, named for Graham Eliott, one of those instrumental in the founding of the college, houses BCCC’s administrative and some faculty offices as well as classrooms.

“This was truly a collaborative effort across the BCCC campus,” Cooper said of the event. “The displays added to the holiday atmosphere on the campus and we were able to donate a record number of items to a worthy organization.”