This year’s STOP Hunger Food Drive drummed up 6,576 pounds of food for the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank. The University of Mary Washington initiative was sponsored by Sodexo’s Campus Dining Services and the UMW Athletic Department.Cans of soup, packets of potatoes and oodles of packaged, nonperishable goods – as well as cash donations – were collected at stations set up around campus. Students also tabled, went door to door dropping off and picking up collection bags, and launched an event at the Top of the UC asking for donations of EagleOne dollars to the cause.
Money and goods amassed between Nov. 2 and 11 counted toward this year’s Capital Athletic Conference “food drive competition.” The contest, between member schools in support of food banks, was proposed by UMW representatives at a 2010 Student Athlete Advisory Committee meeting.
The 11th annual STOP Hunger Food Drive to combat childhood hunger is sponsored by Sodexo on nearly 600 college campuses. In addition to athletes and dining, supporters of UMW’s effort included the Staff Advisory Council, the local YMCA, Hugh Mercer Elementary School, Walker-Grant Middle School, Food Lion, Giant Food and the entire campus community.