University employees are banding together to help fight hunger. The University is taking part in the annual Governor’s State Employees Food Drive, which asks all state employees to collect food and raise funds to help Oregon’s families eat.
“There are a lot of needy people out there and we are all just so lucky to have jobs,” said Public and Government Affairs Coordinator Karen Scheeland, who has helped organize the food drive on campus for nearly a decade. “It’s just good to give back.”
The food drive has consistently increased its output over the last decade, raising thousands more pounds of food each year. Last year, Scheeland said, University employees raised 140,720 pounds of food. This year employees are hoping to top that number, setting a campus-wide goal of 150,000 pounds. Scheeland said more people get involved on campus each year, and hopefully this year will prove to be the same.
Because the University is the largest state employer in Lane County, the contributions from campus greatly help supply FOOD for Lane County (FFLC) each year, FFLC documents state. FFLC distributes an average of more than 43,000 emergency meals each month.
The documents also state that last year, Assistant Director of Admissions Brian Stanley sold 153 dozen snickerdoodles, both plain and chocolate, raising nearly 1,000 pounds’ worth of food.
The Lundquist College of Business was last year’s leading department on campus, hosting a silent auction and raising 27,870 pounds of food. The Psychology department, which solicits cash donations, is one of the leaders on campus every year. According to the documents, last year they had the second-highest donation, collecting nearly 22,000 pounds of food.
“One in three children this past two years have eaten a meal or more out of a food box from FFLC,” said Deb Buchanan, food solicitor for FFLC and the University liaison for the food drive. “A food box helps them not have to compromise their family’s nutritional needs when funds run out before the next pay day.”
Employees can either donate non-perishable goods or give a monetary contribution, with each dollar paying for the distribution 6 pounds of food.
Departments across campus organize their own ways to raise money and collect food. Some sell cookies, build bean bridges and tuna towers or ask for donations.
“There are so many University employees: nearly 13,000. If we all make a concerted effort we can really make a difference,” said EMU Assistant to the Director Jen Mirabile, who is helping coordinate the drive.
Mirabile sends out weekly e-mails to remind employees to bring in food donations and deposit them in one of the six barrels located throughout the EMU.
“It’s the easiest way to give. Go into your pantry and say ‘Here’s some soup, some mac ‘n cheese,’ and bring it in,” she said. “It’s a great way to help your neighbor.”
Want to give?
Students can also get involved in the effort by dropping off donations in the EMU. FFLC is asking for canned and non-perishable items, such as peanut butter, tuna, canned vegetables, pasta and rice. Drop barrels are located outside of the ASUO offices, the Buzz Coffeehouse and the EMU Information Center, which is located at the entrance to the River Rooms hallway. The University is also selling Euphoria Chocolate Co.’s gourmet sweets to help raise money. Each box of chocolates sells for $1.75 and helps further the drive.