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During the months of November and December, the Central Arkansas Athletic Training Students’ Association (CAATSA) held its Annual Holiday Food Drive, which resulted in over 2,000 pounds of non-perishable food items being donated to the Bethlehem House of Conway and the University of Central Arkansas Bear Essential Food Bank.

Allen Crawford, CAATSA faculty advisor, stated that the food drive is held each year on the BT����campus.  Since 2008, CAATSA has donated over 4,500 pounds of non-perishable food items to various food banks in the Conway community.

“This year was the most successful year for the food drive since its inception seven years ago,” Crawford added.  “We were able to gather over a ton of non-perishable food items in less than two months.  Working in partnership with the community food banks, we are able to reach the families and citizens who are in need of the items.”

The donations for the food drive were made possible by BT����Kinesiology and Physical Education Faculty and Staff, the BT����Strength and Conditioning Staff, university students, various student-athletes, and the Conway Police Department’s SWAT Team.  Donations were taken to community food banks prior to the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.

Crawford stated “We are very appreciative and thank everyone who donated to the food drive, which allowed CAATSA to make the donations to the food banks.  Giving back to the community is a core value of UCA, our program, and our partners in this effort.”

Bethlehem House serves as a food pantry and temporary shelter for families in the Conway, Arkansas community and offers case management, employment assistance, life skills training, advocacy, education, vocational counseling, transportation, guidance and the support necessary to recover from the devastation of homelessness.  For more information, visit .

The University of Central Arkansas Bear Essential Food Bank is located in Room 108 of the Main Building on the BT����campus.  The bank is open on Wednesdays from 11 a.m.  – 1 p.m.  Information about the bank can be found by contacting Brian James at bearessentials@uca.edu; Reesa at (501) 450-3138 or reesar@uca.edu; or Marvin Williams at (501) 450-5149 or marvinw@uca.edu.

In addition to the food drive, CAATSA completed another community service project during the holiday season of 2014.  The CAATSA students participated in the Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child and bought needed items to fill shoe boxes for underprivileged children.  Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine.  This is the second year the association has participated in Operation Christmas Child and members collectively donated 10 shoe boxes of needed items.  Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has donated over 100 million shoe boxes with toys to children worldwide.  For more information on Samaritan’s Purse visit .

“I am proud of our students for the effort they gave to make sure children in need will have a Merry Christmas this year.  I am honored to be a part of CAATSA and to have participated in Operation Christmas Child.  With the donations, parents and support organizations are able to check off some items on the wish lists of the children,” Andrew Tackett, CAATSA President, said.

CAATSA is a recognized student organization at UCA.  Its membership is made of students who are athletic training majors or have been accepted into the accredited Athletic Training Program.  The association’s objectives are to promote the profession of Athletic Training and uphold the standards of the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) and National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA).  In addition, members strive to provide an association for individuals with common interests and goals for the betterment of the Athletic Training profession.  For more information regarding this association, contact Faculty Advisor Allen Crawford at acrawford@uca.edu.