Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
November 02, 2004
U of G students collect 16,000 pounds of food for needy
More than 600 University of Guelph students collected 16,240 pounds of food for the Guelph Food Bank and the Central Student Association food bank by canvassing their neighbourhoods Halloween night, breaking the Canadian record for both the number of volunteers and the amount of food.
“The food collected by Guelph students is worth about $32,500,” said Anita Abraham, a Meal Exchange co-ordinator and fourth-year U of G student. “Sunday was a night to cherish. To see our students out on Halloween night dressed in costumes and spending a few hours to help those in need was an unforgettable experience. Our community has been so accepting and helpful.”
The “Trick or Eat” campaign is organized by Meal Exchange, a national student-run organization that aims to engage students from 40 Canadian campuses in solving the problem of hunger in their communities.
“In just its third year as a national campaign, Trick or Eat has proven to be one of Canada’s most effective food drives,” said Dave Krananburg, the national co-ordinator of Meal Exchange. “We are extremely impressed with the passion that students display in addressing hunger in our nation and look forward to building on 2004's success.”
U of G students have taken part in the Trick or Eat initiative since 2002. The students surpassed their goal of collecting 15,000 pounds of food and collected 6,000 more pounds than last year.
For more information about the Meal Exchange program, visit www.uoguelph.ca/~meal or contact Abraham at (519) 824-4120, Ext. 58212, or meal@uoguelph.ca.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, Ext. 56982.
