ROME, Ga. — Averett University's Department of Athletics and its Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) collected a school-record 29,191 items to win their fifth consecutive USA South "Cans Across the Conference" competition. 

Averett's collection is the most in school history and the second-most garnered in a single year by an institution in the during the 16-year life of the competition. Overall, the USA South institutions collected a record 69,387 items this fall, an increase of 5,328 from last year. Over the 16-year history of the program, USA South Athletic Conference institutions have donated 575,168 items to various organizations.

Since classes began this fall until Nov. 21, all 18 of the USA South member institutions participated in the community service competition. Each campus SAAC collected cans and other non-perishable items to benefit a local charity of their choosing. The institution with the most items collected is crowned the Cans Across the Conference Champion. 

Averett's 29,191 items benefitted two local organizations — God's Store House food bank and God's Pit Crew. 

"The effort that everyone has given over the past four months has allowed us to succeed our goal of 20,000 items, and for that Averett SAAC says 'thank you' to everyone who supported our cause," said sophomore Owen Story, Averett's SAAC president. "It is amazing to hear back from God's Store House about the difference we make in others' lives. It makes this initiative worth while knowing that we helped feed people locally in Danville as well as in areas devastated by hurricanes in the Bahamas."

Berea College collected 8,620 items to finish second while Huntingdon College's 6,052 items rounded out the top-three. Individually, nine institutions improved on their collection amounts from a year ago. Additionally, of those schools, six set new single-year records for their institution.



Below is a list of the local organizations where the USA South institutions donated their collections: 
Agnes Scott College: Decatur, Georgia Emergency Assistance Ministry.
Averett University: God's Storehouse Food Bank and God's Pit Crew, both of Danville, Virginia.
Berea College: Berea, Kentucky-Area Food Bank.
Brevard College: Brevard, North Carolina Bread of Life Food Bank.
Covenant College: Chattanooga, Tennessee-Area Food Bank.
Greensboro College: Greensboro, North Carolina Urban Ministry Food Bank.
Huntingdon College: Montgomery, Alabama-Area Food Bank.
LaGrange College: The LaGrange, Georgia Personal Aid/Interfaith Food Closet.
Mary Baldwin University: Blue Ridge, Virginia-Area Food Bank.
Meredith College: The Raleigh, North Carolina Rescue Mission.
Methodist University: Fayetteville, North Carolina Urban Ministry Food Bank.
N.C. Wesleyan College: The Saint James Missionary South Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Salem College: Salem College On-Campus Food Pantry, "My Sibling's Closet".
Pfeiffer University: The Cooperative Christian Ministry Crisis Center in Concord, North Carolina.
Piedmont College: The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.
Wesleyan College: The Mentor's Project of Macon, Georgia which provides role models for encouragement and motivation to local youth.
William Peace University: The Pacer Pantry on the WPU Campus which assists families-in-need within the University community.