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QUINCY, ILL. -- New students at Quincy University kicked off their college careers at the university with a lesson in service.

The 3rd annual QU Cares food drive collected just under 5,000 pounds of food, not including donations from local businesses.

Students carefully mapped out their routes around campus to hit every house in the area. The food they collected will help re-stock shelves at several local food pantries.

"Helping others is just something we do, we want to do. It's something we build our entire community around," Orientation Chair Danielle Dunn said.

The food drive helps get new students started on the 30 service learning hours they must complete before graduating. Most students seem to agree that serving the community is an important lesson to learn during their time at college.

"We are able to learn that other people need help," Freshmen Brittnee Hinch said. "When we need help we expect other people to be able to help us so it's good to reach out and help other people."

"Helping out a community is a really nice thing to do...it's a really great experience," transfer student Nolan Rappe said.

An enthusiastic freshman, Alysha Hagarty commented, "... getting food for people, it's a great cause!"

Non-perishable food and hygiene items will be sorted and split up between Quincy Catholic Charities, Horizons, Quanada, St. Francis Solanus Parish, and St. John's Lutheran Church.