70 volunteers pack 10,000 meal boxes in two hours as part of an effort to end world hunger.
Sophomore Mike Bordonaro works at a table with other students sealing bags packed with rice, soy beans, vegetables and vitamin packets.
Standing in front of tables full of rice, soy beans, vegetables and vitamin packets, 70 student volunteers at Cal U donned hair nets and rolled up their sleeves for a project to help end world hunger.
The students packed 10,000 meal boxes in two hours on Nov. 14 for Rise Against Hunger, an international relief organization. It’s the third time the event has been held at Cal U and the first time the Student Government Association provided funding for the outreach.
“This is a wonderful event, and students requested that we do it again,” said Diane Hasbrouck, director of the Center for Volunteer Programs and Service Learning at Cal U. “Our students understand that hunger is a global crisis as well as a local one and are passionate about helping where they can.”
The event was part of the annual Hunger and Homelessness Week at Cal U, a weeklong series of programming related to the two issues and volunteer opportunities for students to pitch in to make a difference.
Students pitched in close to campus at locations such as the Center in the Woods, California Food Pantry and the Liberty Tower Food Pantry.
“We’ve been doing Hunger and Homelessness Week during the week before Thanksgiving since 2013,” Hasbrouck said. “Students look forward to helping out.”
Natalie Reichard, a criminal justice major who is active with the Gamma Sigma Sigma service sorority, was one of 70 students doing their part at Rise Against Hunger.
“This is my third time with this event,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for students to participate. Sometimes we don’t realize the actual level of hunger that people experience. It’s very eye-opening.”
“It’s simple and easy and has a tremendous impact,” added Amanda Andrews, an education major.
Alan Ninan, a sociology major at Cal U, is an event support specialist for Rise Against Hunger and a Student Government representative.
“The ability to end world hunger by 2030 starts here,” he told the student volunteers. “Thanks for taking two hours out of your busy schedules. Cal U cares and has a heart for the community.”