HACKENSACK, N.J. – Thanksgiving is a special time for everyone. This year our Knights student-athletes helped ensure families had food on the table for the holiday. The FDU Knights Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) sponsored a "Stuff" The Rothman Turkey Drive to raise money for the Center for Food Action here in New Jersey to provide turkeys for families. SAAC raised over $975 and donated over 60 turkeys.

At FDU, SAAC's mission is to encourage the involvement of student-athletes in the unification of the campus community along with the surrounding communities. The committee consists of two student-athlete representatives from each of the 19 intercollegiate teams.

SAAC partnered with the Center for Food Action in Hackensack. The organization's mission statement is, "to prevent hunger and homelessness and improve the lives of individuals and families living in poverty." SAAC has partnered with the Center for Food Action in prior years for the NEC's Canned Food Drive. The Center for Food Action was founded in 1976 and also has locations in Englewood, Mahwah, Ringwood, and Saddle Brook.

Center For Food Action

SAAC President and senior on the women's soccer team, Viktorija Miseljic played a major role in the planning process of the "Stuff" The Rothman Turkey Drive. "I brought the idea up to our eBoard, organized presentations, and conducted meetings virtually to figure out how we wanted to raise the money for the Turkey Drive," said Miseljic. "We collected the money from November 16-20 and got participation from every team."

Miseljic, from Nis, Serbia, added, "We wanted to do something to help people in need and as an international student, when I came to the U.S., I was accepted well by everybody and believe that everybody deserves to have a meal on Thanksgiving. There are a lot of kids who are hungry and giving back to the community is very important to me."

Madison Townley, the Interim Director of Academic and Student-Athlete Support Services who serves as the guidance administrator for SAAC, assisted the student-athletes in sponsoring the Turkey Drive. "I'm so proud of our student-athletes for finding a way to give back to our community in such a meaningful way, especially during this time."

In addition to raising money, FDU also had ten individuals volunteer with CFA to pass out frozen turkeys during their Thanksgiving food distribution. CFA helped feed almost 3,000 individuals and families during a three-day time period for the holiday.