Permian Basin oil producers participate in Midland College Thanksgiving food driveNovember 09, 2021

On Thursday, November 11, Permian Basin STEPS (Service, Transmission, Exploration & Production Safety Network) will hold their monthly meeting on the Midland College (MC) main campus in the Scharbauer Student Center Carrasco Room at 8:30 a.m.  Before the meeting, beginning at 8:00 a.m., STEPS members will contribute toward MC’s annual Thanksgiving food drive that benefits West Texas Food Bank.

“The members of STEPS discussed having a canned food drive to help those in our community who are in need of food, especially during the upcoming holidays,” Erin Van Evera-Welch, director of the MC Petroleum Professional Development Center, explained.  “When I informed STEPS members about MC’s annual food drive, they immediately wanted to assist toward our efforts.  We are delighted to partner with regional business and industry in a number of ways, and helping people in our community with food insecurities is certainly a worthwhile endeavor.”

Midland College’s Thanksgiving food drive began November 1 and culminates on November 19. On November 22,  the Chaps Golf Team will deliver the food to the West Texas Food Bank.

“We always have great participation during the annual drive,” Taneekwa Hurdle, MC Student Activities coordinator, said.  “Students and employees participate by bringing canned and non-perishable food items to various drop boxes located throughout campus.  Then, the golf team picks up the food throughout the campus buildings and delivers it to the food bank.  They even stay at the food bank for several hours volunteering to set up food distribution. The event brings us all together around a single cause of helping others in our community, especially since some of our students are clients of the West Texas Food Bank and will benefit from the drive.  This year, we expect the donations to be even greater, thanks to the help of STEPS members.”

Permian Basin STEPS (Service, Transmission, Exploration and Production Safety Network)
The purpose of Permian Basin STEPS is to work cooperatively with the oil & gas industry and OSHA with one common goal, "Incident Free Work Place". Meetings consist of a network of information including lessons learned, best practices, updates from OSHA concerning regulation and presenters that cover a cross section of information pertaining to energy industry safety.