'Skip a Meal' Fall Campaign Begins
September 18, 2009 - Campus Bulletin
U of G's "Skip a Meal" campaign is running Sept. 21 to Oct. 2. Students are asked to "skip" dinner or another meal and instead donate the cash or points from their meal cards that they would have used to local social organizations.
The annual campaign is offered through Meal Exchange, a national student-run organization that aims to engage students from 35 Canadian campuses in solving the problem of hunger in their communities through various campaigns and initiatives.
The cash and points U of G students donate are used to purchase non-perishable food items for 19 local agencies in the community that provide assistance for abused women, homeless teens and people who use food banks. The food purchased from donations this fall will be delivered to organizations on Nov. 21.
U of G students have taken part in "Skip a Meal" since 1997. Last fall, the Guelph chapter broke a national record in the "Skip a Meal" campaign, raising more than $26,000, the highest amount ever raised by a Canadian university or college. On average, the Guelph chapter, managed by the Central Student Association, contributes about one-quarter of all donations Meal Exchange receives nationally. Nearly 29,000 volunteers have been involved over the years.
In April, the U of G chapter of Meal Exchange has received a 2009 June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism.
For additional information, e-mail the Meal Exchange program at meal@uoguelph.ca or visit the web site.
