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News Release

July 10, 2007

Staff and Students Organize Food Drive for Local Youth

In response to the recent closure of Guelph's only emergency youth shelter, U of G staff and students have organized a food drive for local youth.

Members of CUPE and the University's Student Volunteer Connections launched the food drive on campus this week.

“The shelter provided a daily supper program,” said Leisha Zamecnik, who just graduated from U of G and decided to help organize the food drive. “Now there is a hole in the system that needs to be filled.”

Zamecnik said U of G has a connection to the downtown shelter because the student-run Meal Exchange program, which she was involved with, used to provide bulk amounts of food to the facility.

She approached the two University groups a couple of weeks ago with the idea of a food drive, and everyone was quick to jump on board, she said.

“This is an example of how the University is not living in a bubble but cares about what is going on in the community,” she said. “When someone is in need, staff, students and faculty are more than willing to help.”

Organizers are asking for non-perishable food and hygiene products, as well as new or used musical instruments.

The instruments will be used to help maintain a music program that was initiated by the youth shelter, Zamecnik said.

A table where people can drop off donations will be set up in the University Centre all week. Donation boxes will also be located outside the Grad Lounge on Level 5 of the UC and the Central Student Association office on Level 2.

Zamecnik said the collection of donations will continue until a new shelter is in place.