Wallace State PTK event fills shelves in student food pantry

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Organizers of the Wallace State Community College Alpha Chi Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society were pleased with the outcome and turnout for its 5K Miles for Meals Run, Walk, Give event held earlier this month.

Around 40 participants turned out on a rainy afternoon to support the club’s fundraiser benefiting the Lions’ Kitchen food pantry, donating enough food to supply the pantry for two semesters. The rain slacked off just in time for the 3 p.m. start.

“We were very pleased with the turnout and the amount of food donated to help our students,” said Stacey Sivley, PTK sponsor. “With all of the rain, we weren’t sure what to expect, but those who did attend came through in a big way and we are very grateful for their support.”

The Lions’ Kitchen, located in the Gudger Student Center, is accessible to all Wallace State Community College students. They can stop in as needed and select items to help fill out their cupboards. Donors to the 5K provided everything from mac and cheese and cereal to chips and canned goods.

The top male finisher of the race was Barry Ege of Hanceville with a time of 21:00 minutes. The top female finisher was WSCC Business Management major Karla Hildebrand of Athens, with a time of 31:16.

The 5K Miles for Meals event is this year’s Distinguished College Project for PTK. The club received a national Hallmark Award in 2020 for hosting a middle school math tournament for students across north Alabama.

Membership to Phi Theta Kappa is extended by invitation only. To be eligible, a student must be enrolled in an associate-degree program, have completed at least 12 hours of course work leading to an associate degree, have a grade point average of 3.5 or better, exhibit good moral character, and possess recognized leadership qualities.

For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu or call 256.352.8000.