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BBQ @ Bailey Canceled for Fall 2020; Trojan Food Pantry and Campus Garden to Benefit

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will not hold its annual campus-wide picnic BBQ @ Bailey this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While students, employees, and alumni won鈥檛 celebrate this beloved tradition that kicks off the new semester together this year, the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association has decided to celebrate by donating the money designated for the event to campus organizations that provide food to those in need. 鈥淏BQ at Bailey has become an awesome event that we look forward to each year! However, during this Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring the safety of our alumni, students, faculty, and staff is of the utmost importance,鈥� said James Bobo, president of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board. 鈥淭herefore, the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors decided that in lieu of our 2020 BBQ @ Bailey event, we will donate the dollars ordinarily spent on the event to the Trojan Food Pantry and the Campus Garden.鈥� The picnic-style event is usually held at the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus and is hosted by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association. It鈥檚 a fun way for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community to enjoy some great barbecue, fun, and fellowship as well as an opportunity to join or renew their Alumni Association membership. 鈥淭his would have been the 14th annual event, and we are disappointed that we are unable to provide an in-person way for our community to celebrate the beginning of another academic year,鈥� said Kristi Smith, senior director of development and interim director of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Association. The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Trojan Food Pantry is open to all 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock students, faculty, and staff. A recent survey found that 50 percent of the university鈥檚 students and staff either know someone who is food insecure or suffer from food insecurity themselves. 鈥淭he Trojan Food Pantry has made a great impact on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community,鈥� said Corrigan Revels, assistant director for student leadership and development and coordinator of the Trojan Food Pantry. 鈥淭his year, the pantry is more important than ever, and we are truly thankful to have the support of the Alumni Association. This support allows us to continue serving and supporting our Trojan family.鈥� The 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Campus Garden is a place for education, research, and outreach about food production, sustainability, economic botany, ecology, and more. Much of its food harvested from the Campus Garden is donated to the Trojan Food Pantry. 鈥淭he Campus Garden has been a vital part of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and the surrounding community for many years,鈥� said Dr. Stephen Grace, faculty advisor of the Campus Garden and associate professor of biology. 鈥淲ith the economic and social hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, our mission to provide fresh local produce and educational opportunities for people wanting to grow their own food is more important than ever. This generous donation from the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Alumni Board of Directors will enable us to continue our efforts to build a vibrant, sustainable food system to serve the needs of our campus, city, and the people of central Arkansas.鈥�

You can also be a part of this year鈥檚 celebration by donating to support the university鈥檚 students and employees who face food insecurity by visiting the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Giving website.