NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s Food Pantry is in dire need of toiletry items and is holding a fund raiser that pits NSU President Marcus Jones against Dean of Students Reatha Cox in a contest to raise the most money to benefit the Food Pantry.  The loser will kiss a live pig.

The Kiss a Pig for the Pantry fund raiser is being organized by a group from NSU’s President’s Leadership Program.

“As an impact project to raise awareness and donations, my group and I are hosting a Kiss a Pig event with special guest President Marcus Jones facing off the Dean of Students Reatha Cox,” said Daija Ware. “Students, faculty and staff will be able to donate toiletries or monetarily to the cause (Donate to Kiss a Pig). The competitor with the most amount of donations toward their name will be declared the winner. The victor will watch in satisfaction as their opponent kisses a pig.”

The Natchitoches community is invited to participate.  Donations can be made at https://northwesternstatealumni.com/kiss-a-pig/ and donors can specify which administrator’s till gets the donation. Online donations will close at 8 a.m. Monday, March 14.

The loser of the fund drive will kiss the pig at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 15 in the parking lot next to the Food Pantry, which is located next to Trisler Power Plant on Central Drive across the street from Hanchey Gallery.

To accommodate the event, the parking lot next to the Food Pantry will be closed from 5 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15.

“We are hoping that the event brings in students who are unaware of the NSU Food Pantry and its services, possible volunteer workers and donations,” Ware said.

The NSU Food Pantry was created by students who identified a need to combat food insecurity on campus where students often struggle with financial challenges. In addition to food items, the Food Pantry also stocks kitchen necessities, such as can openers and utensils, along with deodorant, disposable razors, facial tissue, feminine products, soaps, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, t-shirts and some household cleaning products.

More information is available by contacting Ware at dware312882@nsula.edu.