Student Food Drives Set New National Records
November 03, 2006 - News Release
University of Guelph students have set new national records by raising more than $84,500 in food and donations this fall for local charities through Meal Exchange, a student-run national campus charity.
About 1,200 students collected more than 30,000 pounds of food Halloween night, worth more than $60,000. U of G students also donated $22,000 from their meal plans through "Skip a Meal" this semester, the highest amount of any Canadian university or college.
The students’ “Skip a Meal” donations will be used to buy wholesale products for 17 organizations throughout the city that support abused women, homeless teens and people who use food banks. Students buy specialty items that aren’t often collected in traditional food drives, such as ethnic foods, diapers and hygienic products.
The “Trick or Eat” non-perishable food items collected Halloween night have gone to the Guelph Food Bank. Together, U of G and the City of Guelph set a national record for the largest amount of food collected for “Trick or Eat.”
“I am so proud of the results of this year’s events,” said Caitlin Lyon, Meal Exchange education and promotions co-ordinator. “Student volunteers and the community really came together to address the hunger issue in Guelph. Together we have made a positive, unforgettable impact on our city.”
On Nov. 25, dozens of U of G student volunteers will deliver the food from the “Skip a Meal” campaign to local organizations.
Guelph students have taken part in “Skip a Meal” since 1997 and have contributed more than $260,000 in food.
Meal Exchange is a national student-run organization that aims to engage students from 40 Canadian campuses in solving the problem of hunger in their communities. For more information about the program, visit www.uoguelph.ca/~meal or send e-mail to meal@uoguelph.ca.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, Ext. 56982.
