December 2 , 2009
 Cold morning weather and gray skies couldn't chill the holiday spirits of the Ambler Campus Owl Ambassadors as they completed their annual drive to help families in need throughout the region.
The Ambler campus Owl Ambassadors invited all Temple University Ambler students, faculty, and staff, to help support one of the largest hunger relief campaigns in the region, collecting non-perishable food items for the 13th Annual Camp Out for Hunger. Temple made its annual donation to Camp Out for Hunger on Wednesday, December 2.
This year, the Owl Ambassadors were able to collect more than 700 pounds of food, nearly doubling the amount collected in 2008!
"As a campus, we have been able to collect thousands of pounds of food to donate to Camp Out For Hunger in the last few years. This year, Main Campus Admissions and Owl Ambassadors will also be assisting with this effort," said Kelly Otis, Admissions Counselor and coordinator of the Owl Ambassador program at the Ambler campus. "Camp Out for Hunger is such a good cause, at this time of year, I think the campus and the University as a whole just really wants to help families in need."
Camp Out for Hunger is sponsored by the Preston and Steve Show on 93.3-FM WMMR on behalf of Philabundance.
Morning show DJs Preston Elliot and Steve Morrison live in an RV parked outside the Guitar Center at the Metroplex Shopping Center in Plymouth Meeting during the first week of December each year to raise awareness about hunger relief efforts in the region.
At the Ambler campus, the Owl Ambassadors marked drop off boxes located in West Hall and were supported by Ambassadors and Admissions staff at the Main Campus for the first time.
 “Not only are the Owl Ambassadors tour guides, but they are leaders on campus. What better way to use your leadership skills than to help out a great cause?” Otis said. "We'd like to thank all of the student organizations, students, faculty, and staff, who help make this campaign such an exciting, and rewarding, experience for everyone involved each year."
According to Philabundance, the organization is experiencing a serious shortage of food while demand has been increasing with the difficult economic times. Food banks across the country are reporting significant increases in the number of people seeking emergency food assistance.
There is still time to help families in need this holiday season by donating to Philabundance. Philabundance suggests that all donations to families in need be in boxes, cans, or plastic bottles and not require refrigeration. Examples include canned tuna, ready-to-eat cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, boxed sugar, canned beef stew, and peanut butter and jelly. To assist Philabundance, you can do your part by donating or organizing a food drive.
“There are a lot of food drives and charity programs at this time of year on campus — our students are very dedicated to helping people and families in need,” Otis said. “We are always confident that we will receive a huge amount of support from the Ambler campus community!”
For more information, contact Kelly Otis at kotis@temple.edu or 267-468-8101. For more information on the Camp Out for Hunger, visit here.
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