November food drive unites campus against hunger

For several years, the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Office of Visitor & Information Programs (VIP) has coordinated the NBC15 “Share Your Holidays” food drive for families in need.

This year, the organizers will join forces with other campus groups for an effort greater than the sum of its parts.

Now through Thursday, Dec. 1, the all-campus food drive will collect nonperishable food items for the NBC15 “Share Your Holidays” campaign. This effort raises meals for Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, a nonprofit serving families and individuals facing hunger in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties.

Several locations across campus will serve as collection points for donations:

• Union South, 1308 W. Dayton St.;
• Office of the Registrar, 333 East Campus Mall, room 10101;
• WSUM 91.7 FM, 333 East Campus Mall, room 4100.

Building on last year’s collaborative initiative, Visitor & Information Programs will be collaborating with the UW General Library System, University Housing, UW-Extension, the Office of the Registrar, the Division of Enrollment Management, the Department of Geoscience and 91.7 FM WSUM Student Radio to gather monetary and food donations.

“As our first attempt to organize a collaborative approach to the food drive, we had an incredibly successful campaign last year,” says Blair Brophy, event co-organizer and marketing specialist for VIP. “We’re hoping to continue these efforts to promote greater awareness and encourage more donations.”

Donors may also make monetary contributions to the NBC15 “Share Your Holidays” campaign through Second Harvest Foodbank’s website. All donations made through this link can be credited to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and if desired, to the specific department that helped raise donations.

Contributions make a direct impact in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties. The Hunger in Southwestern Wisconsin 2010 study indicates that in these 16 counties, Second Harvest Foodbank serves 140,600 individuals each year, of which 43 percent (about 60,000) are children. In any given week, 22,700 people receive emergency food assistance.