The Aurora University Athletic Department and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in conjunction with the Spartan athletic training student organization (SATSO) and Fitness, Physical Education and Coaching Student Organization (FPEC) are combining efforts to participate in the ninth annual "Cans Across the Conference" sponsored by the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) SAAC.

Since the conference's inception in 2006, the members of the NACC SAAC has organized "Cans Across the Conference", doing something together as a conference that helps in each institutions' respective community. SAAC annually organizes the canned food drive as a community service competition amongst the 12 institutions in the conference. Each campus SAAC collects cans and other non-perishable items on their campus until December 8, 2014 to benefit a local charity.

As part of the 2014 campaign, Aurora University will donate half of the collected items to the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry and half to the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry.  In addition to food items, one dollar ($1) donated will equal two cans, and toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) will also be counted.

The AU SAAC will collect cans and non-perishable items during home football, basketball and volleyball games until December 8. 

• The following games will be noted as collection opportunities.
• Saturday, October 25 - Volleyball vs. Concordia University Wisconsin - 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 1 - Football vs. Concordia University Chicago - 1:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 18 - Men's Basketball vs. Millikin University - 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, November 26 - Women's Basketball vs. North Park University - 1:00 p.m.
• Saturday, November 29 - Men's and Women's Basketball vs. Concordia University Wisconsin - 2:00 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 3 - Women's Basketball vs. Benedictine University - 7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, December 4 - Men's Basketball vs. Rockford University - 7:00 p.m.

"This is an outstanding project that SAAC and all of the NACC student-athletes are undertaking. It will benefit many people," remarks NACC Commissioner G. Steven Larson. "Our institutions and student-athletes have done a remarkable job collecting over 210,000 items the last nine years."

In 2006, Concordia University Wisconsin won the traveling trophy with 1,311 donated items. In 2007, Aurora University topped the field with 3,513 items. Rockford College won for two-straight years, as it collected 6,750 items in 2008 and 3,551 in 2009, while Alverno College has won the last four with 7,108 items in 2010, 13,477 items in 2011, 25,284 items in 2012 and 16,019 items in 2013.

Collection boxes are located throughout campus in Dunham Hall, Alumni Hall, Institute Building, Library and Eckhart Hall or donation items can be dropped off in the Athletics Office (Room 242).