Donations made at university bookstores can make a difference for local community members
In November, individuals who visit any of the three university stores run by Virginia Tech Services, Inc. will have the option to make a small cash donation at the register to help support the 2014 Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.
The stores include the University Bookstore (on-campus), Volume Two Bookstore (off-campus), and their newest location at the North End Center, as well as the Dietrick Convenience Store, and the Lane Stadium Hokie Shop stores.
One hundred percent of the donations will be divided equally and distributed to the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program, Blacksburg Interfaith Food Pantry, and United Way of Montgomery, Radford and Floyd.
Last November, Virginia Tech Services, Inc. collected $1,700 and donated an additional $4,300 bringing their total donation to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign to $6,000.
This one-month initiative is part of a year-round commitment Virginia Tech Services, Inc. has to help feed hungry children and adults in Southwest Virginia.
Since 2009, Virginia Tech Services, Inc. has donated more than $117,000 to local food charities, with 100 percent going directly to purchasing food. Don Williams, executive director of Virginia Tech Services, Inc., works directly with the local charities to determine what food items they need and then covers the cost of those items.
"Helping others has always been important to me and I’m fortunate to have a staff who agrees with that direction and feels they are doing something wonderful to assist in the community," said Williams of the about 300 full and part-time employees who work for Virginia Tech Services, Inc. "Without them this wouldn’t be possible."
Virginia Tech Services, Inc., is a non-profit corporation that returns all profits to Virginia Tech for student related scholarships and improvements. Since 1968, Virginia Tech Services, Inc. has given $45 million dollars to the university for such uses.
The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign is a workplace-giving program that allows state employees to designate a financial gift to any of more than 1,000 participating charities. Types of charities include health and human services, animal welfare, environmental conservation and medical research.
Salaried employees may also donate online, via payroll deduction. All gifts are tax deductible, as allowed by law.
During the last five years, Virginia Tech employees have donated a combined total of more than $1.3 million to hundreds of local organizations through the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign.
Learn more about the impact these donations have on the community.
The Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign at Virginia Tech is administered by the university’s Department of Human Resources with the help of a steering team of employees from across the university.
