Contributions Support SOWELA Food Pantry and Faith and Friends Food Bank
Lake Charles, Louisiana – December 8, 2025
SOWELA Technical Community College recently wrapped up one of its largest and most successful food drives, collecting three full truckloads of donations thanks to the tremendous efforts of students, faculty and staff. SOWELA’s SkillsUSA club, math department and industrial mechanics program led the effort with support from departments across the College.
The annual food drive has grown steadily over the years, evolving from a small campus effort into a major SOWELA tradition. Each year brings more volunteers, more contributions and stronger campus-wide participation as the College expands its role in supporting local families and students facing food insecurity.
This year’s donations were delivered to the SOWELA Tiger Love Food Pantry, which provides critical assistance to students in need, and the Faith and Friends Food Bank, which serves families throughout Southwest Louisiana. Both organizations expressed deep appreciation for the substantial contributions and emphasized the importance of the added support during a time of increasing demand.
“This annual donation does more than just fill shelves in the SOWELA food pantry for students in need,” said SOWELA Director of Student Services Maegan Lewis. “This purposeful donation fills a student’s day with hope and encouragement to help them succeed inside and outside of the classroom.”
The overwhelming response reflects SOWELA’s commitment to service, collaboration and supporting both its students and the broader community. The continued growth of the food drive demonstrates the compassion and teamwork of the SOWELA community and its dedication to make a meaningful difference year after year.
SOWELA’s SkillsUSA club, math department and industrial mechanics program extend sincere thanks to everyone who contributed, volunteered or helped promote the effort. Their generosity ensures that students and families in Southwest Louisiana have access to needed resources.
SOWELA is ranked the #1 community college in Louisiana by WalletHub based on Cost and Financing, Education Outcomes and Career Outcomes.
About SOWELA Technical Community College
SOWELA Technical Community College offers dynamic instruction and practical learning opportunities that prepare students to seamlessly transfer or to excel in today’s workforce. For more information, visit www.sowela.edu.