By Jody Record, Media Relations
Nov. 4 through Nov.18
Want to make a donation to the campus-wide food drive starting next week but afraid you’ll forget to buy that extra something when you go to the supermarket? Don’t want to hassle with trying to get to one of the drop-off sites?
Not to worry. Giving just got a whole lot easier.
All you have to do is go online.
Health Services, the department of animal and nutritional sciences, the Student Nutrition Association, the Organic Gardening Club, campus recreation, athletics, and university dining are coordinating the food drive that starts Nov. 4 and runs through Nov. 18.
Donations will benefit Cornucopia—who is organizing its own food collection of Thanksgiving and winter food baskets (see this issue: “Just Ate”)--and the New Hampshire Food Bank. Cornucopia, the food pantry at UNH, provides food and other support to students, staff, faculty and their families.
“The most exciting thing to me is that we’ve joined forces with Cornucopia so we can double our efforts,” says Suzanne Sonneborn, nutrition educator for Health Services. “This is only both our second years so we’re still learning what will be most effective.’’
To simplify the donation process, the N.H. Food Bank has set up a Web link (http://vad.aidmatrix.org/vadxml.cfm?driveid=1779) that goes right to a menu page listing food items the pantry most often needs. All shoppers have to do is point and click.
The process not only saves time, it saves money. Buyers are able to purchase items for the food bank at reduced prices. For example, a case of green beans that costs $15.84 in grocery stores is only $9.11 online. Fruit cocktail is $9.29 compared to a retail price of $19.08; peanut butter costs $14.25 instead of $29.88, and macaroni and cheese sells for $6.25 vs. $12.
Donors also have the option of giving cash.
Sports fans are urged to bring canned goods to the football game against UMass on Saturday, November 4 and the women’s and men’s hockey games on Saturday, November 18, against Northeastern and UMass-Lowell, respectively.
And, if you want a little something in exchange for your giving, Dining Services will offer a $6 lunch to anyone who brings in a donation. A coupon for the lunch will be mailed to all faculty and staff at the beginning of November.
Just bring it and any non-perishable food item to Stillings Marketplace, Holloway Commons, or Philbrook dining hall and enjoy great eats at a reduced price while ensuring others eat well, too. Collection boxes will also be located at Wildcatessen, Philbrook Café, Coffee Office Convenience Store and the Gables Convenience Store.
According to Mark Jesionowski, development coordinator of the N.H. Food Bank, every dollar donated helps distribute four meals to people in need. Food and grocery items collected by the center are then distributed to a network of more than 300 soup kitchens, shelters and food pantries across the state.
The virtual food bank is just one way organizers are trying to reach out to faculty and staff in an effort to help the hungry. For people who want to shop and give the traditional way, a number of collection sites are available around campus.
Food can be dropped off at marked locations, including Gregg Hall, the Thompson School, the Waysmeet Center of the United Campus Ministry, Office of Community Service and Learning, Health Services, Campus Recreation, Kendall Hall, all three dining halls and the Wildcatessen, Philbrook Café, Coffee Office Convenience Store and the Gables Convenience Store.
Some of the collections will stay here on campus at the Cornucopia food pantry, located in Christensen Hall. Pantry hours are Wednesday s, 4-5:30 p.m. and Friday, 12- 5p.m. or by appointment. (2-1165 or 2-4820)
“That’s why I really like the title of the drive, “ UNH takes on hunger”, because it describes local efforts and coordinate efforts that help more than 300 agencies and the UNH community,” Sonneborn says.
Urgently needed items include:
- Canned tuna or chicken
- Canned stews
- Canned pasta
- Peanut butter
- 100% juice boxes (no glass please)
- Canned fruits in light syrup, applesauce
- Canned vegetables
- Canned tomatoes and tomato sauce
- Healthy cereals
- Pasta and rice
- Dry beans
- Soups