Since the conference's inception in 2006, the members of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (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 14 institutions in the conference. Each campus SAAC collects cans and other non-perishable items at their school during October, November and December to benefit a local charity.
In addition to food items, one dollar donated will equal two cans, and toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) will also be counted.
"This is an outstanding project that SAAC and all of the NACC student-athletes are undertaking. It will benefit many people," remarked former NACC Commissioner G. Steven Larson. "Our institutions and student-athletes have done a remarkable job collecting over 300,000 items the last 10 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 University 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 six by setting new records with 7,108 items in 2010, 13,477 items in 2011 and 25,284 items in 2012. Alverno collected 16,019 in 2013, 24,921 in 2014 and set another record with 27,203 in 2015.
2022 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
194 |
Alverno Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
|
Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry |
| Benedictine |
310 |
University Campus Ministry Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
270 |
Pillars Food Pantry |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
958 |
Saukville Community Food Pantry / Family Sharing of Ozaukee County |
| Dominican |
6,208 |
St. Joseph Family Services |
| Edgewood |
1,041 |
Catholic Multicultural Center |
| Illinois Tech |
|
|
| Lakeland |
384 |
Sheboygan County Food Bank |
| Marian |
|
|
| MSOE |
2,050 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
| Rockford |
245 |
Salvation Army |
| St. Norbert |
|
|
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
822 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
2021 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
- 0 - |
- 0 - |
| Aurora |
1,000 |
Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry |
| Benedictine |
|
Lisle Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
1,191 |
Pillars Food Pantry / Moving Everest Charter School Family and Community Engagement Center |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
1,085 |
Family Sharing |
| Dominican |
11,110 |
Thanksgiving Basket Drive |
| Edgewood |
1,266 |
Catholic Multicultural Center |
| Illinois Tech |
|
|
| Lakeland |
1,507 |
Sheboygan County Food Pantry |
| Marian |
1,366 |
Fond du Lac Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
1,990 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
| Rockford |
1,236 |
Northern Illinois Food Bank |
| St. Norbert |
1,478 |
Paul's Pantry |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
1,194 |
Risen Savior Lutheran Church Blessing Box / Redemption Lutheran Blessing Box |
| NACC Office |
|
|
|
NACC Total:
|
|
|
2020 Standings - Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Dominican |
8,894 |
Thanksgiving Basket Program / Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Alverno |
8,863 |
Milwaukee Hunger Task Force / Alverno Food Pantry |
| Edgewood |
6,098 |
Catherine's Food Pantry / St. Vincent de Paul |
| Marian |
3,305 |
Fond du Lac Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
2,409 |
Libby's Place / Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry |
| Rockford |
1,659 |
Northern Illinois Food Bank |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
1,483 |
Milwaukee Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
1,326 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Lakeland |
835 |
Sheboygan County Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
480 |
Milwaukee Hunger Task Force |
| Illinois Tech |
450 |
St. James Catholic Church |
| NACC Office |
300 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
| Benedictine |
193 |
West Suburban Food Pantry |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
171 |
Milwaukee Hunger Task Force |
|
NACC Total:
|
36,466 |
Final Total as of Friday, Dec. 13, 2019
|
2018 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
18,721 |
Milwaukee Hunger Task Force |
| Edgewood |
11,675 |
St. Vincent DePaul / Blue Dot Food Pantry |
| Dominican |
9,405 |
Thanksgiving Basket Program / Oak Park/River Forest Food Pantry |
| Marian |
4,567 |
Fond du Lac Food Pantry |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
1,784 |
Milwaukee Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
1,518 |
Oak Park Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
765 |
Libby's Place / Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry |
| Rockford |
518 |
Rock River Valley Pantry |
| MSOE |
400 |
St. Benedict Food Pantry |
| Benedictine |
372 |
West Suburban Community Pantry |
| NACC Office |
300 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
| Lakeland |
277 |
Sheboygan County Food Pantry |
| Illinois Tech |
120 |
St. James Catholic Church |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
114 |
Milwaukee Hunger Task Force |
|
NACC Total:
|
50,536 |
Final Total as of Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018
|
2017 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
18,787 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Edgewood |
10,995 |
St. Vincent DePaul / Blue Dot Food Pantry |
| Dominican |
9,134 |
Thanksgiving Basket Program/Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
5,911 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Marian |
5,035 |
Fond du Lac Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
2,040 |
Libby's Place |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
1,215 |
Family Sharing of Ozaukee |
| Rockford |
637 |
Rock River Valley Food Pantry |
| NACC Office |
400 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
| MSOE |
396 |
Riverwest Food Pantry |
| Benedictine |
367 |
West Suburban Food Pantry |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
136 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Lakeland |
135 |
Plymouth Food Pantry |
|
NACC Total:
|
55,188 |
Total as of Monday, Dec. 4, 2017
|
2016 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
13,235 |
Hunger Task Force / local pantries |
| Dominican |
10,920 |
Thanksgiving Baskets Program / local pantries |
| Edgewood |
10,870 |
St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry / Project Haiti |
| Marian |
3,276 |
Salvation Army Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
1,545 |
Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry / Libby's Place Food Bank |
| Concordia Chicago |
1,200 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Benedictine |
750 |
West Suburban Community Pantry |
| MSOE |
750 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
532 |
Port Washington Food Pantry |
| Conference Office |
400 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
| Rockford |
260 |
Rock River Valley Pantry |
| Lakeland |
- |
-did not participate- |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
- |
-did not participate- |
|
NACC Total:
|
43,738 |
Final Total as of Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016
|
2015 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
27,203 |
Hunger Task Force, Muskego Food Pantry & Capuchin House of Peace |
| Dominican |
6,868 |
Thanksgiving Baskets Program |
| Edgewood |
2,600 |
Second Harvest Wisconsin |
| Aurora |
2,212 |
Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry & Libby's Place Food Bank |
| Benedictine |
1,658 |
West Suburban Community Pantry |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
1,381 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Marian |
883 |
Salvation Army |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
750 |
Port Washington Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
747 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Lakeland |
704 |
Sheboygan County Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
551 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Rockford |
413 |
Rock River Valley Pantry |
| Conference Office |
350 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
|
NACC Total:
|
46,320 |
Total as of Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015
|
2014 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
24,921 |
Hunger Task Force & Capuchin House of Peace |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
3,063 |
Waukesha County Food Pantry |
| Lakeland |
3,058 |
TBA |
| Marian |
3,000 |
Fondy Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
2,367 |
Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
1,737 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Rockford |
1,032 |
Northern Illinois Food Bank |
| Dominican |
924 |
Thanksgiving Program/Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Edgewood |
800 |
Second Harvest Wisconsin |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
761 |
TBA |
| Concordia Chicago |
751 |
TBA |
| Benedictine |
655 |
TBA |
| Conference Office |
200 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission |
|
NACC Total:
|
43,269 |
Total as of Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014
|
2013 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
16,019 |
Milwaukee area pantries |
| Lakeland |
13,442 |
Sheboygan Salvation Army |
| Aurora |
2,831 |
Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry |
| Rockford |
2,293 |
Rockford Rescue Mission |
| Marian |
1,460 |
Fond du Lac Food Pantry |
| Conference Office |
1,275 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission, New Berlin Food Pantry |
| Dominican |
965 |
Thanksgiving Baskets Program |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
882 |
Waukesha County Food Pantry |
| Benedictine |
841 |
TBA |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
812 |
Port Washington Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
670 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
175 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Edgewood |
- |
did not participate |
|
NACC Total:
|
41,665 |
Final Totals as of Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013
|
2012 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
25,284 |
Milwaukee area pantries |
| Lakeland |
7,739 |
Sheboygan Salvation Army |
| Benedictine |
2,300 |
TBA |
| Marian |
1,342 |
Fondy Food Pantry |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
1,137 |
TBA |
| Rockford |
1,095 |
Rockford Rescue Mission |
| Conference Office |
1,040 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission, New Berlin Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
1,004 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Dominican |
922 |
Thanksgiving Baskets Project |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
831 |
Port Washington Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
764 |
Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
754 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Maranatha |
513 |
Watertown Food Pantry |
| Edgewood |
150 |
TBA |
|
NAC Total:
|
44,875 |
Totals as of Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012
|
2011 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
13,477 |
Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin & Hunger Task Force |
| Lakeland |
3,703 |
Plymouth Food Pantry & Safe Harbor |
| Benedictine |
2,768 |
Operation Support Our Troops, Lisle/Woodridge Food Depository & Sacred Heart Mission Church |
| Marian |
2,700 |
Broken Bread |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
2,457 |
Waukesha County Food Pantry |
| Rockford |
1,630 |
Rockford Rescue Mission, Rockford Food Pantry & Salvation Army |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
912 |
Port Washington Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
897 |
Oak Park/River Forest Food Pantry |
| Dominican |
846 |
Thanksgiving Baskets Program |
| MSOE |
558 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Maranatha |
417 |
Watertown Food Panty |
| Conference Office |
355 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission, New Berlin Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
253 |
Hessed House |
| Edgewood |
127 |
Second Harvest Food Bank |
|
NAC Total:
|
31,100 |
Final Totals as of Monday, November 21, 2011
|
2010 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Alverno |
7,108 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Rockford |
4,037 |
Rockford Rescue Mission, Rockford Food Pantry, Salvation Army |
| Dominican |
2,623 |
Thanksgiving Baskets Program |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
2,507 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Marian |
2,375 |
Fond du Lac County Social Services and Dobogai Memorial Foundation |
| Benedictine |
1,497 |
Woodridge/Lisle Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
1,270 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Aurora |
1,269 |
Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry |
| Lakeland |
1,225 |
Sheboygan Co. Health & Human Services/Families at Sheridan Elem. |
| Maranatha |
1,004 |
Watertown Food Pantry |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
878 |
Port Washington Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
550 |
Hunger Task Force |
| NAC Office |
525 |
Milwaukee Rescue Mission, New Berlin Food Pantry |
| Edgewood |
364 |
St. Vincent de Paul's Food Pantry |
|
NAC Total:
|
27,232 |
Final totals as of Monday, Nov. 22
|
2009 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Rockford |
3,551 |
Rockford Rescue Mission, Rockford Food Pantry, Salvation Army |
| Alverno |
2,227 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Dominican |
1,752 |
Thanksgiving Baskets Program |
| Aurora |
1,565 |
Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry |
| Maranatha |
1,446 |
Watertown Food Pantry |
| Benedictine |
1,392 |
Woodridge/Lisle Food Pantry |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
1,295 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
1,210 |
Port Washington Food Pantry |
| Concordia Chicago |
905 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
| Marian |
847 |
Fond du Lac County Social Services |
| Lakeland |
721 |
Plymouth Food Pantry |
| Edgewood |
351 |
St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
303 |
Hunger Task Force |
|
NAC Total:
|
17,565 |
|
2008 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Rockford |
6,750 |
Rockford Rescue Mission |
| Maranatha |
5,395 |
Watertown Food Pantry, Pillsbury Baptist Bible College Faculty & Staff |
| Aurora |
2,162 |
Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry |
| Edgewood |
1,439 |
St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
1,400 |
Second Harvest of Wisconsin |
| Lakeland |
1,191 |
Plymouth Food Pantry |
| Alverno |
1,121 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Benedictine |
1,027 |
Woodridge/Lisle Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
857 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
834 |
Port Washington Food Pantry |
| Marian |
660 |
Fond du Lac County Social Services |
| Dominican |
621 |
40 Families Dominican is Sponsoring |
| Concordia Chicago |
518 |
Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry |
|
NAC Total:
|
23,975 |
Fall of 2008 totals as of 11/24/2008
|
2007 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Aurora |
3,513 |
Green Harvest |
| Marian |
2,581 |
FDL County Dept. Social Services & Solutions Center of FDL |
| Alverno |
2,560 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
2,010 |
Second Harvest of Wisconsin |
| Edgewood |
1,991 |
St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry |
| Maranatha |
1,200 |
Watertown Area Needy Family Fund |
| Dominican |
1,039 |
SERVE |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
470 |
Family Sharing of Ozaukee County |
| Lakeland |
400 |
Plymouth Food Pantry |
| MSOE |
317 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Rockford |
242 |
Rockford Rescue Mission |
| Benedictine |
- |
- |
| Concordia Chicago |
- |
- |
|
NAC Total:
|
16,323 |
Fall of 2007 totals as of 11/19/2007
|
2006 Standings
| Institution |
Items |
Organization |
| Concordia Wisconsin |
1,311 |
Benediction Lutheran Church |
| Wisconsin Lutheran |
1,241 |
Second Harvest of Wisconsin |
| Alverno |
1,142 |
Hunger Task Force |
| Marian |
1,088 |
Bethany House |
| Dominican |
856 |
Needy Local Families |
| Lakeland |
790 |
Sheboygan Food Pantry |
| Edgewood |
722 |
St. Vincent DePaul |
| Concordia Chicago |
508 |
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church Food Pantry |
| Benedictine |
327 |
Loaves and Fishes of Naperville |
| Aurora |
250 |
Hesed House |
| Rockford |
132 |
Rockford Rescue Mission |
| Maranatha |
76 |
Watertown Food Pantry |
|
NAC Total:
|
8,443 |
|