‘U Can Crush Hunger’ Fights Food Insecurity
Allyson Fogerty
From Oct. 22 through Nov. 5, Manchester University participated in a food-insecurity awareness event called “U Can Crush Hunger.”
“U Can Crush Hunger” is a friendly competition between six local universities and was sponsored by Community Harvest. The University of Saint Francis, Manchester University, Indiana Tech, Huntington University, Ivy Tech and IPFW all came together to help raise money and gather food donations to fight against food insecurity.
Food Insecurity, as defined by Oxford dictionary, is “the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.” Nearly one in eight Americans experience food insecurity. The goal of “U Can Crush Hunger” was to gather 55,000 pounds of food to be donated to food banks and communities throughout Northern Indiana.
Students were encouraged to participate in the many canned-good collection activities on campus. There was a trick-or-treat for non-perishables where Manchester University students went around town in teams to collect foods from community members. At Costume BINGO, a campus-wide event sponsored by Manchester Activities Council, students had to bring a canned good in order to be given a BINGO card. The limit was two cards. There were several drop-off sites on campus, barrels and boxes, where students and staff could drop of non-perishables.
The community was encouraged to participate by donating money through the Community Harvest website or donate foods at the local police station. One dollar was the equivalent of four pounds of food towards the 55,000-pound goal.
Allison Goetcheus, director of the Center for Center for Service Opportunities, spoke of MU’s efforts: “It was a well-received event that partnered students, faculty, staff and our community! We are uniting for a good cause.”
This was Manchester University’s first year participating in the event, and the Community Harvest’s fourth year of putting it on.