The materials science and engineering department at the University of Missouri-Rolla donated four truckloads of canned goods to the Greater Rolla Area Charitable Enterprise (GRACE) Friday, Dec. 9. Additional cash donations totaled more than $2,000.

“We collected about 6,000 items and raised more than $2,000,” says Dr. Richard Brow, chair of the materials science and engineering department at UMR. “We had a little challenge going on between faculty and students from the UMR Material Advantage chapter. Without that, we would have had one truck going to GRACE instead of four trucks.”

The challenge involved pies to the face for the losing “team.” Since the results were about even, it was decided both teams would sacrifice representatives to the cause, and several faculty members and students got the pie treatment at a celebration Dec. 9 in McNutt Hall on the UMR campus.

Dr. Delbert Day, Curators’ Professor emeritus of ceramic engineering, wore a motorcycle helmet as protection during a student-faculty pie fight that marked the end of a successful campaign to support GRACE.

The total raised by the materials science department at UMR included a cash donation from Mo-Sci Corp. of Rolla.

UMR Staff Council contributed more than $770 and an additional three truckloads of canned goods and toys to the GRACE for Christmas program as part of a campuswide effort from Nov. 3 to Dec. 5.

The Greater Rolla Area Charitable Enterprise (GRACE) responds to emergency needs of individuals and families in Phelps County. One hundred percent of UMR’s donations will be used to provide direct assistance to needy individuals and families. For more information on donating time or money to GRACE, contact the organization at (573) 368-5577.