'Swipe Out Hunger' encourages students to take action against food insecurity
From Nov. 17-20, to coincide with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Penn State students across the commonwealth can donate extra dining dollars from their campus meal plans benefitting the Student Emergency Fund.
Additionally, University Park Dining kicked off Swipe Out Hunger early by hosting a new annual event, a Chili Cook-Off, on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the South Food District. A $5 donation to the Student Emergency Fund earned diners five flights of chili and the opportunity to vote on a favorite. Each of the five University Park dining commons contributed a chili, and West Food District was the winner.
All Penn State residential campuses can participate in "Swipe Out Hunger" —a partnership between the University and the Swipe Out Hunger national organization — when students donate excess dining dollars on their meal plans any time they dine on campus. Last year donations from University Park dining commons, HUB-Robeson Center dining locations, and Commonwealth Campuses for fall and spring came to more than $45,000.
The Student Emergency Fund is a program that provides short-term financial assistance to students experiencing crises through Student Care & Advocacy.
Swipe Out Hunger, a national nonprofit committed to ending college student hunger works with more than 435 colleges and universities nationwide to implement anti-hunger programs. The group that brought Swipe Out Hunger to Penn State includes task force subcommittee members from Housing and Food Services and Student Affairs and students. They work with the Lion's Pantry, a food pantry at University Park.
The Swipe Out Hunger campaign will remain open through the end of the fall semester, and students can continue donating their leftover dining dollars until the semester closes on Dec. 20. Students at every campus location can continue to donate $1, $5, $10, or $15 when they pay for their meal at any residential dining facility, including mobile orders.